It’s when you start to talk about the practical implications of Christian Nationalism’s errors that you start to get some pushback. People will happily go along with discussion about its relative merits but I’ve found that the strongest resistance I’ve had has been to my suggestion that churches, networks and national leaders should act, not… Continue reading What do we do about Christian Nationalism in practice?
Tag: church discipline
The burden of proof – and why we seem to struggle to challenge the far right
It’s funny isn’t it? People were fairly relaxed about me writing articles reflecting on issues around flags, marches and nationalist ideology. However, as soon as I suggested that this should lead to action, specifically that church networks should not partner with, or include in their number, those who endorse and align with the far right… Continue reading The burden of proof – and why we seem to struggle to challenge the far right
The other party
What’s going on when a Bible passage looks like it should be about two people but ends up just being about one? People often ask about what happened to the man in the incident where a woman was caught in adultery. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 5, we are told about a man who has been… Continue reading The other party
People in your church that you should be talking about at elders/leaders meetings
I recently saw a post from Steve Kneale about who you should talk about at elders’ meetings. I did not disagree with the post but rather I thought it might be helpful to show another way of cutting things. Those moving in These are people who are new to the church or not yet members. … Continue reading People in your church that you should be talking about at elders/leaders meetings
The visible church
In Matthew 13:21-30, Jesus tells a parable about a farmer who plants seed, only for an enemy to intentionally plant weeds in among the crop. The owner’s servants ask permission to go and uproot the weeds but the farmer says no because there is a risk that good crops will be uprooted with bad. This… Continue reading The visible church
What kind of Church? A holy church (1 Corinthians 5)
The church is made up of imperfect people, simultaneously saints and sinners. We have a constant responsibility to challenge and encourage one another about sin. But what happens when things become more serious? Don’t get caught in the headlights (v1 -5) Have you heard the expression “a rabbit caught in the headlights?” It refers to… Continue reading What kind of Church? A holy church (1 Corinthians 5)
How not to do Church Discipline
Geoff Chang has offered a “primer” on church discipline on the 9 Marks website. He defines “Church Discipline” as “the process by which members of a church guard one another from the deceitfulness of sin and uphold the truth of the gospel.” He then goes on to recommend the following process, based on Matthew 18… Continue reading How not to do Church Discipline
Stephen Sizer and when church discipline doesn’t seem possible
The Stephen Sizer tribunal reached its verdict a few weeks back and concluded that he had engaged in antisemitic behaviour on at least one occasion whilst also causing offense to Jewish people and that “the Respondent’s conduct was unbecoming or inappropriate to the office and work of a clerk in Holy Orders”[1] The Bishop of… Continue reading Stephen Sizer and when church discipline doesn’t seem possible
How should Church Discipline work between churches?
In my articles responding to the Stephen Sizer case, I’ve argued that one of the problems that prevented an effective response to the problem of antisemitism in the church was a failure to do church discipline well. This affects both the immediate local church context and inter church relationships. So, I thought it might be… Continue reading How should Church Discipline work between churches?
Stephen Sizer, antisemitism and church discipline
In this article, I wrote about why the church seems to have dealt badly with the problem of antisemitism, particularly in relation to the Stephen Sizer case. Before going further, I should also mention again that this is not just about the Sizer case. As I commented in the previous article, a couple of years… Continue reading Stephen Sizer, antisemitism and church discipline
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