Apparently, the latest dispute to occupy people’s head space and get a thousand fingers tapping passionately at their keyboards, is the question about whether or not it is possible for babies to sin. The big claim has been that if you are reformed, then you should recognise that babies sin. The practical focus seems to… Continue reading Can babies sin? Navigating a current controversy
Tag: love
Telling the whole brutal truth
“And I think love is shown by telling the truth. The whole truth. Sometimes, the brutal truth. Sure, you need to say it respectfully. Sometimes, you need to say it gently. But unless you are prepared to say it how it is, you are misleading someone. Maybe even lying to them. But this is the… Continue reading Telling the whole brutal truth
Love, holiness, relationships and rivalry
Remember Juliet? We met her at the coffee shop where she was looking longingly into the eyes of Romeo, her work colleague. In conversation, it comes out that When you talk with Juliet, she defends her relationship as follows. By the way, I’m not suggesting that she presents the following points in a neat, structured,… Continue reading Love, holiness, relationships and rivalry
Love God, love the saviour -lessons from a typo
When reading through my article on a theology of risk, a friend spotted a fascinating typo. I had intended to write “One way in which I love God with my whole heart is by loving my neighbour as myself” Instead I’d written: “One way in which I love God with my whole heart is by… Continue reading Love God, love the saviour -lessons from a typo
The pastoral dynamite of genuinely mutual submission
I’ve been arguing for some time that when Paul says “submit to one another” in Ephesians 5, that this means mutual submission, husbands and wives are both to submit to each other. This is controversial in some quarters but actually there is some heavy-weight historical support behind it including from the likes of John Calvin.… Continue reading The pastoral dynamite of genuinely mutual submission
The perfect law
James’ emphasis on practical faith could be mistaken for legalism. How does this fit with the Gospel? Well James now helps us to think about what it means to obey the Law of God, specifically as it relates to favouritism. A look at the text (Read James 2:8-13) The Law is “the royal law” of… Continue reading The perfect law
The beloved son
God keeps repeating his promise to Abraham that he will have a son and one day, that promise is fulfilled. Sarah conceives, the pregnancy is successful, a miracle in her old age. God blesses them with their own son and so remembering how they had laughed previously, they call him “Isaac” (Genesis 21). Then in… Continue reading The beloved son
An excellent church (1 Corinthians 13)
At the end of 1 Corinthians 12, having talked about many of the problems and troubles in Corinth and having given some time to talking about things like gifts and unity, Paul says: “And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” Excellence is something we all crave. Schools covert the “outstanding” status whilst… Continue reading An excellent church (1 Corinthians 13)
What kind of Church? A caring church (1 Corinthians 8)
How does what I do, say, prioritise affect other believers -especially those who are younger/more immature/struggling? The next big question the Corinthians had was about food sacrificed to idols. The issue was that the pagan temples functioned as the slaughter house or butchers, providing meat which was then sold in the market meaning you were… Continue reading What kind of Church? A caring church (1 Corinthians 8)
Reaping what you sow
This next section reinforces the point that we’ve seen developed through chapter 5-6, we cannot fix our lives and our relationship to God by making external adjustments to our behaviour through rule keeping and rituals. Instead, our lives will bear fruit in accordance with the roots. A look at the text (Read Galatians 6:7-10) An… Continue reading Reaping what you sow
Faithroots 