Tag: COVID-19

Did we grow to love the fringe too much?

I resisted for a while, especially when I hoped lockdown would be short but eventually I succumbed. I realised that my hair was beginning to look like I was channelling Boris Johnson.  So, I bought some clippers and in a dramatic, bold move set them to number one before unleashing them on my head.  I’ve… Continue reading Did we grow to love the fringe too much?

Come with me – simple discipleship

I have often been struck by John’s description of the first disciples being called. I would sum up his description of discipleship being that it is people following Jesus to be in his presence and inviting others to come with them and follow Jesus. That’s discipleship in a nutshell. I was reminded of this again… Continue reading Come with me – simple discipleship

Has COVID exposed our problem with legalism?

I remember a conversation with someone who came from a fairly strict church background about when it was permissible to not say grace. They explained how church leaders in the past had gone to great lengths to talk about the size of the meal. It was a bit like the gymnastics the government went through… Continue reading Has COVID exposed our problem with legalism?

When the situation is complex, keep the Comms simple

I remember someone at the start of the pandemic who was in the know (genuinely in the know, not someone who knew a friend of a friend), sharing at a briefing to church leaders that when the Government said it was following the science, this included behavioural scientists. My initial reaction to that was “uh… Continue reading When the situation is complex, keep the Comms simple

Anchors Up!

I grew up in the Boys Brigade singing the song “Will your anchor hold.” So don’t hear me wrong. I don’t want to take away from the imagery of our anchor grounded firm and deep as we are rooted in Christ. However, I want to use the metaphor in another context. It is right that… Continue reading Anchors Up!

Is a 10 year jail term proportionate for lying about quarantine?

My friend Steve has opened up this question and indicated a reluctance to enter into the specific debate although eventually he did give his opinion. I on the other hand am happy to wade in to the specific debate and to say that I think a ten year prison sentence is perfectly reasonable and proportionate… Continue reading Is a 10 year jail term proportionate for lying about quarantine?

Zoom or in person? – another faulty question

In a recent article I got us to think a bit more about communion and suggested that the question of “open v closed” communion was the wrong one.  Another question that has come to the forefront during COVID is about what it means to gather as a church. This is of course related to the… Continue reading Zoom or in person? – another faulty question

Truth and Reason go together

This tweet remains online, having been seen by the originator’s 60,000 followers and retweeted 146 times and liked 600 times (as of the 4th February 2021) This, despite the fact that several people have explained to the original poster that the claim was not in fact true.  It seems that instead of taking a few… Continue reading Truth and Reason go together

When the pagans call us to prayer

Steve Kneale has written here with a typically robust response to the Archbishop of York’s call for a national day of prayer. In his article Steve rightly highlights the problems with such calls, that there is something peculiar about calling people to pray to a God that you do not believe in and that when… Continue reading When the pagans call us to prayer