Last month Jason Roach wrote an article for Evsngelicals Now looking at how the Gospel deals with our shame as well.aa our guilt. It was a very helpful article showing how some cultures are more alert to one or the other. The only change I would make is to give more emphasis to the fact… Continue reading Shameful … Why EN need to be wise about what they publish on their letters page
Tag: guilt
Longevity is not the same as faithfulness (and why grace matters)
A friend of mine frequently points out the nonsense of saying that something has “stood the test of time”. It’s not really a test that tells you anything more than that the specific thing has been around for a long time. As Christians, we rightly value faithfulness and this does mean that believers, leaders and… Continue reading Longevity is not the same as faithfulness (and why grace matters)
The danger of legalism
A big theme throughout Galatians is that we are no longer under subjugation to The Law. This meant that Galatian believers were not to be subjected to the rituals and ceremonies of Judaism. It also meant that people were not to be excluded from belonging and fellowship on that basis. So, an important application from… Continue reading The danger of legalism
What is legalism? Faithroots Podcast
The Truth about Cats and Dogs
This was the opening illustration and title of a series of talks I did for a church on the weekend away several years back. I asked the question “What is the difference between cats and dogs”. There are two answers. The first is : When you welcome a dog into your home, feed it, provide… Continue reading The Truth about Cats and Dogs
Guilt, Grace and Forgiveness
I‘ve found, when I’m preaching, that when I touch upon the subject of guilt, something resonates. I pick up on it subjectively as I sense people’s attention being grabbed and as I watch body language and facial expressions. I pick up on it objectively as the level of feedback picks up! So guilt seems to… Continue reading Guilt, Grace and Forgiveness
Penal Substitution: Steve Chalke and the Lost Message of Jesus, 20 years on
In 2023, a little book by a prominent Christian communicator shook the evangelical world. Steve Chalke stated in “The Lost Message of Jesus” that the doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement if true would amount to “cosmic child abuse.”[1] It’s important to be clear about what he wasn’t saying. Chalke did not claim that the atonement… Continue reading Penal Substitution: Steve Chalke and the Lost Message of Jesus, 20 years on
Adoption: What God says about you
When King Saul and his sons died in battle, one of the few survivors from the family was a little boy called Mephibosheth. As his family fled, he was dropped, irreparably damaging his legs so that he was unable to walk.[1] Later King David expressed the desire to show kindness to relatives of Jonathan, Saul’s… Continue reading Adoption: What God says about you
Shameless
Genesis 2:25 says Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. The point of nakedness is that it is now associated with embarrassment and vulnerability. The point about shame is that it is something which causes us to hide, either ourselves of the thing that causes shame. In the Garden of Eden,… Continue reading Shameless
What was Jesus guilty of?
When talking about Jesus’ trial, we often emphasise the kangaroo nature of the court that met at night and the inability of his accusers to agree as they brought their false accusations. However, there was an accusation that stuck and was actually true. Jesus was executed for a very specific thing and that charge was… Continue reading What was Jesus guilty of?
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