Are the government really about to make you report Sunday School Attendance?

Evangelicals Now reports that “parents could be forced to report Sunday School attendance” to the authorities.  This offers a helpful example of being careful about how we report and react to news stories.  The headline might give the impression that the state are about to start prying into all of our private and religious lives… Continue reading Are the government really about to make you report Sunday School Attendance?

Matthew Roberts on sin desire and temptation (more on the contemporary debate)

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As a postscript to my article about the contemporary debate concerning sin, desire and temptation, here’s a look at Matthew Roberts’ book “Pride”. I have picked up  a copy on Kindle since I wrote the first article.  Roberts book is primarily focused on the ethical debate around LGBT+/same sex attraction and the Gospel.  His starting… Continue reading Matthew Roberts on sin desire and temptation (more on the contemporary debate)

Sin, desire, temptation and the contemporary debate

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I’ve been spending a bit of time looking at the debate about concupiscence.  It’s probably about time to engage with the contemporary debate a bit more. So, let’s go back to where we started.  In a new book, “Ruined Sinners to Reclaim”, last year, David and Jonathan Gibson accused John Stevens, National Director of the… Continue reading Sin, desire, temptation and the contemporary debate

“They’re only words”: temptation and confusion in a debate about desire

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John Stevens recently shared my article about John Calvin”s views on Concupiscence (desire) via Social Media. Oddly, at the time of writing, I haven’t seen anyone come back either directly to me or via John’s Facebook page to argue that I’ve got the case wrong. instead, a couple of people were very quick to complain… Continue reading “They’re only words”: temptation and confusion in a debate about desire

More reformed perspectives on sin, temptation and desire

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We’ve had a look at what John Calvin has to say about desire (concupiscence).  It is worth widening out our look at the Reformed tradition.  The Westminister Confession The Westminster Confession’s 6th chapter is all about sin.  I note that in the version I’ve got in front of me, the term concupiscence doesn’t appear in… Continue reading More reformed perspectives on sin, temptation and desire

Calvin on sin, desire and temptation

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The primary claim of those arguing that concupiscence is sin with the implication that it is sinful to even be tempted is that theirs is the historical position of the church.  This will often include a reference to Augustine, although his view doesn’t seem to have been as clear cut.   However, the claim is also… Continue reading Calvin on sin, desire and temptation

Is creation care a Gospel issue?

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This was a question posed in Evangelicals Now, back in December by John Samuel and Richard Buggs.  The question was prompted by a statement in the 2011 Cape Town Commitment from the Lausanne Movement which also found its way into the 2024 Lausanne Congress.  It reads: If Jesus is Lord of all the earth, we… Continue reading Is creation care a Gospel issue?

What is an Evangelical?

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It’s over twenty years now since  the controversy  over Steve Chalke’s book, The Lost Message of Jesus.  Central to the controversy was his rejection of Penal Substitution and central to the response was that you can’t deny Penal Substitution and continue to be recognised as an Evangelical. It is worth noting that at the time,… Continue reading What is an Evangelical?