This is a follow up article to my most recent article on #BlackLivesMatter and specifically to some comments, questions and interaction. One notable comment was to the affect that Justice was being done in the George Floyd case because the policeman was standing trial Christians should stick to preaching the Gospel and not spend time… Continue reading Racism, social justice, crime, sin and idolatry
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Journey out of lockdown – return to the Church building with communion
Yesterday was our first opportunity to meet again physically after the second English lockdown. After the first lockdown, we kept things simple at the building. We decided not to recommence communion and we continued to stream a Facebook service from someone’s home which people could then opt to watch at the building. Yesterday we did… Continue reading Journey out of lockdown – return to the Church building with communion
The vaccine and abortion (3) Doing ethics from three perspectives
There are three general approaches to how we make ethical decisions. Sometimes in history they have functioned as competing schools of thought but some contemporary thinkers (particularly John Frame) suggest that in fact we need all three perspectives to make decisions. I’m going to outline them here – probably a little (a lot?) simplified for… Continue reading The vaccine and abortion (3) Doing ethics from three perspectives
Racism and the Gaslighting of a people
I came across this quote the other day. I wonder what you make of it it? My immediate concern here is that there is a bit of a narrative growing, namely that if there is racism here, then it is all the fault of those people who protested in the summer under the banner #BlackLivesMatter.… Continue reading Racism and the Gaslighting of a people
A promise has been kept
The response of God’s people to deliverance is praise. After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, Miriam led the people in dance and song, at the heart of Scripture are the Psalms – a whole book of songs, some lamenting, some interceding but many telling the story of God’s saving acts. So it should be… Continue reading A promise has been kept
The vaccine and abortion (2) How do we make ethical decisions?
The other day. I posted an article looking at the moral dilemma created by the fact that over the years, those creating vaccines have relied on cells harvested from aborted embryos in order to cultivate vaccines. A few people began to openly wrestle with the implications to this. They expressed discomfort at the news and… Continue reading The vaccine and abortion (2) How do we make ethical decisions?
Rumours, fear and scepticism
Imagine living in Judea or Galilee around about 4BC. The gossip trail will have been working overtime, rumours of angels showing up and appearing with words from God after 400 years, reports of an elderly priest struck dumb in the temple, claims about an elderly woman giving birth having been infertile all her life and… Continue reading Rumours, fear and scepticism
Urban mission is both urgent and longterm
As our time at Bearwood Chapel comes to a close, we wanted to take time to listen to others to find out where the need is and where we can best help in terms of urban Gospel mission. Over the past few weeks I’ve been having lots of conversations, some have been with people I’ve… Continue reading Urban mission is both urgent and longterm
Unbelief and silence
Here’s another little perspective on the account of Zechariah and the angel. Sometimes we see the key people in the Gospels in effect acting out or recapitulating Israel’s history. So, here we have the story of a man who serves God in the Temple, who is a representative of the people and a spokesman for… Continue reading Unbelief and silence
The vaccine and abortion
I’ve seen a range of reasons given over the past few months for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. Some of them are understandable including concerns about whether we know about all potential side effects yet. Some people see it as a freedom issue, although as things stand, the vaccine won’t be compulsory,… Continue reading The vaccine and abortion
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