How do we apply the book of Isaiah to our lives and context today? * Well, first of all, it’s important that we don’t attempt to pick it up and synthesise a set of principles straight from 700BC to 21st century life. Instead, whenever we pick up an Old Testament book, we apply it first to… Continue reading Avoiding wrong turnings
Posts
It’s no sacrifice … or is it?
Steve Kneale writes that we should stop calling faithfulness a sacrifice. He argues that it is not a sacrifice to obey God’s commands and stay faithful to Christ because, the things we are being asked to give up are not good for us, we are being asked to turn our back on sin and idolatry. … Continue reading It’s no sacrifice … or is it?
Antisemitism, Amnesty and the IHRA definition
Amnesty International report that they’ve joined with a number of civil rights organisations in writing to the UN asking them not to adopt the IHRA’s definition of Antisemitism. They are arguing that the definition can and has been used in order to suppress legitimate protest against the state of Israel, particularly in relation to its… Continue reading Antisemitism, Amnesty and the IHRA definition
What the hope of resurrection doesn’t encourage us to do -and why that’s good news
Something struck me over the past few months, particularly as our family have been through a period of grief having seen Sarah’s dad and my mum die in a very short space of time. One of the emotions that we go through in grief is that strong sense of missing a person and wishing that… Continue reading What the hope of resurrection doesn’t encourage us to do -and why that’s good news
Can we talk about sex and relationships? The pastoral challenges and pitfalls
I’m returning to the themes coming out of The Gospel Coalition’s controversial article “Sex is not your saviour but it points to the one who is” which provided an excerpt from Josh Butler’s forthcoming book, Beautiful Unnion. As promised, I want to deal here with some of the challenges and pitfalls around talking theologically and… Continue reading Can we talk about sex and relationships? The pastoral challenges and pitfalls
Foundations for a Christian perspective on current issues, challenges and controversies around UK healthcare
I spent the first two articles making some observations about two specific examples of the issues and controversies we are currently facing when talking about UK healthcare, the Junior Doctors Strike and debates around funding and privatisation when it comes to the NHS. Now, let’s step back a little and think about how we view… Continue reading Foundations for a Christian perspective on current issues, challenges and controversies around UK healthcare
Faithroots podcast on Church Discipline
Here’s this week’s podcast on Church Discipline We’ve had a few teething issues with new tech and so there currently isn’t a YouTube video version but I’m hoping to resolve that soon.
Roadmap to Jesus (Book Review)
I love the Bible, all of it. I think the Old Testament is fantastic. Not everyone feels that way about it. Some people find the Bible overwhelming, challenging and big, they don’t know where to begin. Others like bits of it but not all of it. In particular they think the Old Testament is irrelevant… Continue reading Roadmap to Jesus (Book Review)
Galatians Reconsidered (Book Review)
Much ink has been spilt over a little controversy amongst New Testament Theologians, the so called New Perspective on Paul. Neil Martin believes that he has found a way through the impasse to enable us to be enriched by Paul’s teaching, especially in Galatians. The New Perspective was a response to the traditional Protestant position,… Continue reading Galatians Reconsidered (Book Review)
How Reading Proverbs has helped my understanding of the rest of the Bible
I love the Proverbs but my appreciation of them has grown when I’ve spent time reading them as a book of the Bible, not just selecting memorable ones to quote. You see, whilst we tend to treat them as a source book for lots of anatomised wise advice, I believe that we are meant to… Continue reading How Reading Proverbs has helped my understanding of the rest of the Bible
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