I’ve noticed a tendency in terms of contemporary hot potatoes to assume that, or at least act as though, the debate is binary. I’m thinking specifically of the complementarian/egalitarian, EFS and Concupiscence debates. What I mean is this. Often a specific theological position is developed in response to a perceived error, this may not be… Continue reading Theological debate is not always binary
Tag: Disagreement
Getting impersonally personal
Something struck me after engaging in a particular dispute recently. It was the dispute about the Keswick Convention’s relationship to abortion campaign group CBR UK and their church focused project, Brephos. I was reflecting back with my wife after some follow on conversations with people who had got in touch we me about my article. … Continue reading Getting impersonally personal
You don’t have to apologise because I disagree with you
US pastor and writer Kevin DeYoung has been at it again, offending people on twitter. This time with this tweet. A lot of people have been quick to react, seeing something deeply heretical and offensive in the tweet. How, they ask, can Kevin say that we are fundamentally sinners when Genesis 1 says that we… Continue reading You don’t have to apologise because I disagree with you
Should Christians disagree on social media?
Social media, whether it’s twitter or Facebook (I assume that TikTok and Instagram have the same challenges but I’m not trendy or young enough to know) isn’t always the easiest place to be. Friends fall out quickly, words are said, others are muted, unfriended and blocked. It can become toxic very quickly. Sadly, that seems… Continue reading Should Christians disagree on social media?
Food from around the worldwide web (15-05-2022)
Occasionally I provide a round up of articles that others have been writing about. Here’s the latest. 3 reasons Christians slander one another -it’s something we know shouldn’t happen and yet seems to happen a lot. Why? Is this approach to complementarianism just dressed up egalitarianism – this is a slightly similar issue, not so… Continue reading Food from around the worldwide web (15-05-2022)
Remember: You are not Jesus!
What turns out to be the most controversial is often a surprise. Sometimes I can write something or say something and it gets little reaction when I would expect it to create a lot of heat. Other times, I say something I consider fairly innocuous or obvious and it creates waves with people taking the… Continue reading Remember: You are not Jesus!
We need to do better at deep and charitable theological engagement (another lesson from COVID)
You are a church leader and you’ve just been told by the government that due to a pandemic ripping through the population, you will now need to suspend public services as part of a national lockdown. You know that schools, pubs, restaurants, theatres and sports stadia are being closed. You know that people are being… Continue reading We need to do better at deep and charitable theological engagement (another lesson from COVID)
Family or politics?
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) I’ve been called a few names in the past year. I’ve bene told that… Continue reading Family or politics?
Matters of conscience and matters of wisdom
This is a quick response to my friend Steve’s article this morning. Today, Steve has commented on the issues with identifying something as a matter of conscience. Some people seem to treat a “matter of conscience” as a kind of subjective route into saying that they can hold to their own personal truth unchallenged. As… Continue reading Matters of conscience and matters of wisdom
The bread that divides?
A crisis situation like the one we are in at the moment can throw up the occasional bouncer, a theological issue that affects how we do church that we weren’t ready for. These issues can be controversial. So we want to approach them carefully and with charity. We also need to be ready for the… Continue reading The bread that divides?