Too often we can feel bounced into announcing and taking action before we are ready to. I’ve seen it in church life where someone suddenly pushes a major decision to a vote well before all of the information is on the table and before people are ready, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually to make a discernment. … Continue reading Bounced
Tag: lockdown
Shall we gather? The case for physical gathering may actually prove the opposite!
Before we go any further, I want to make it clear that I prefer to see local churches physically gather in a specific venue. There are so many reasons as to why I believe this is far better than zoom and Facebook. I long for the day when we can gather without restrictions, singing God’s… Continue reading Shall we gather? The case for physical gathering may actually prove the opposite!
The problem with Christian Exceptionalism and the distinction between submit and support
From this Sunday, church buildings in England will be closed again for public worship due to a second lockdown. I expect that most church leaders will comply with this, all with a heavy heart. Some will do this quietly. Others will have raised objections through blog posts, letters to MPs, petitions and possibly a legal… Continue reading The problem with Christian Exceptionalism and the distinction between submit and support
An open letter to Boris Johnson: Please reconsider the impact of lockdown 2 on churches, businesses and community groups
Dear Boris, I know that what I’m about to say will go against the grain in terms of where the pressure on you is coming from. I understand as well that your decision to move to another national lockdown will have been taken reluctantly. However, I am writing even at this late stage to ask… Continue reading An open letter to Boris Johnson: Please reconsider the impact of lockdown 2 on churches, businesses and community groups
lockdown scepticism v COVID scepticism
You may increasingly be hearing people described as, or even describing themselves as lockdown sceptics. These are people likely to be disagreeing with the Government not (as seems to be the majority case) for doing too little too late about the virus but for doing too much. A lot of the suspicion comes from a… Continue reading lockdown scepticism v COVID scepticism
“You’re joking … not another one?” Lockdown 2?
Remember Brenda from Bristol’s reaction to the General Election in 2017. A lot of us are no doubt feeling like that about the prospect of another national lockdown. Of course there are a lot of people pushing heavily for one too. As a Christian and a church leaders I believe it is important that we… Continue reading “You’re joking … not another one?” Lockdown 2?
The current Evangelical scepticism about science and modelling could do long term harm
There is a narrative that is gaining traction at the moment which runs along the lines that we are resisting an authoritarian agenda led by “The Science” and fed by dodgy models. From this perspective, attempts to model and forecast should be ignored as worthless trash whilst our efforts to control and defeat a pandemic… Continue reading The current Evangelical scepticism about science and modelling could do long term harm
The real problem with Gnosticism
I’ve written on this subject a few times now because “Gnosticism” seems to be the label of choice when we want to attack the position of other Christians. I think there are two problems with this. First of all, I think it prevents us from understanding the actual position of people we disagree with including… Continue reading The real problem with Gnosticism
Following The Science … or The Sciences? How much disagreement really?
Every so often in life, you will hear someone say “well there are so many different opinions on x, therefore I am completely entitled to believe y” at which point they introduce a completely new option that no sane person in the debate would ever endorse. The belief that there are lots and lots of… Continue reading Following The Science … or The Sciences? How much disagreement really?
Were we prepared?
I remember the pastor of a church I used to attend commenting that rarely when people are in the midst of the crisis is that the time to try and teach them how to face the situation. Rather, if we are going to get through the challenge of a health, work or relationship crisis then… Continue reading Were we prepared?
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