Christ the centre
Michael Horton, Professor of Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California, and host of The White Horse Inn broadcast was interviewed by Christianity Today on the temptation to have something other than Christ as the centre of Christianity.
“There is nothing wrong with law, but law isn’t gospel. The gospel isn’t ‘Follow Jesus’ example’ or ‘Transform your life’ or ‘How to raise good children.’ The gospel is: Jesus Christ came to save sinners—even bad parents, even lousy followers of Jesus, which we all are on our best days. All of the emphasis falls on ‘What would Jesus do?’ rather than ‘What has Jesus done?’
(h/t Between Two Worlds.)
Updated website for Matthias media
Matthias Media have updated their website — check it out here.
New churches promote old beliefs
“Local Anglicans could have another choice in what church they attend locally, including what interpretation of scriptures they agree with.
The Anglican Network In Canada (ANiC) is exploring the possibility of establishing new churches in Chatham and Belle River…”
– Just one small peek at what appears to be happening in many places in Canada – from The Chatham Daily News in south-west Ontario.
‘Dissident Anglican parishes have no rights to property’
“A B.C. court ruling that four dissident Anglican parishes have no legal right to their buildings and land is being viewed as a watershed moment in a decade-long battle within the Church over same-sex blessings.
The case is sure to have ramifications for the other 35 dissident parishes spread across Canada that have chosen to leave the national church over doctrinal issues, raising questions about where they will worship if other courts follow suit and rule in favour of the Anglican Church of Canada on the property issue…”
– Report from The National Post.
(Photo of Bishop Michael Ingham courtesy of the Diocese of New Westminster.)
British Columbia Supreme Court issues mixed decision in church property dispute
Anglican Network in Canada News Release
25 November 2009, 4:30pm PST
Mr. Justice Kelleher found that the Bishop of New Westminster did not have legal or canonical authority for his purported termination and replacement of the Trustees…
Without deciding the issue, Mr. Justice Kelleher also expressed his opinion that “the parish properties are held on trust for Anglican ministry as defined by the [Anglican Church of Canada].”
Mr Justice Stephen Kelleher of the British Columbia Supreme Court issued a mixed decision today in the case involving the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) Diocese of New Westminster and four Greater Vancouver parishes in the Anglican Network in Canada.
The four parishes – St Matthew’s (Abbotsford), St Matthias & St Luke’s (Vancouver), St John’s Shaughnessy (Vancouver) and Church of the Good Shepherd (Vancouver) – had asked the courts in early September 2008 to clarify their Trustees’ responsibilities in light of hostile action taken by the Diocese of New Westminster. Read more
Collision at the Dendy
From the Dendy Cinema’s website –
SPECIAL EVENT SCREENING – COLLISION
Christopher Hitchens vs Douglas Wilson
Dendy Newtown, Monday 30th November, 7pm
Followed by Q&A with:
Dr Greg Clarke (Director of Christian Studies Institute at Macquarie University)
and
Dr Peter Slezak (Senior Lecturer School of History and Philosophy at UNSW)
Details here. Justin Taylor blogged about the film here. (Photo: Greg Clarke.)
The Gospel Old and New
“Have you heard the New Gospel? It’s not been codified. It’s not owned by any one person or movement. But it is increasingly common.
The New Gospel generally has four parts to it.
It usually starts with an apology: ‘I’m sorry for my fellow Christians. I understand why you hate Christianity. It’s like that thing Ghandi said, ‘why can’t the Christians be more like their Christ?’ Christians are hypocritical, judgmental, and self-righteous. I know we screwed up with the Crusades, slavery, and the Witch Trials. All I can say is: I apologize. We’ve not give you a reason to believe…’
Then there is an appeal to God as love …
The third part of the New Gospel is an invitation to join God on his mission in the world…
And finally, there is a studied ambivalence about eternity…”
– Kevin DeYoung at the Gospel Coalition on why the ‘new gospel’ is so wrong.
Premier’s intervention unwelcome
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney — Media Release
Wednesday November 25, 2009
Premier’s intervention unwelcome
The special intervention of the Premier Nathan Rees in announcing a trial of ethics classes as part of the Special Religious Education system is flawed and the Anglican Church is asking for the decision to be reconsidered.“This proposal at first glance might not seem like a bad idea, but there are several inherent problems with the way this is being proposed,” says Bishop Glenn Davies, Chairman of the Anglican Education Commission.
“For the Premier to waive the regulations to enable a secular organisation to deliver its program at the same time as SRE sets a precedent for other groups to seek special access to school students,” says Bishop Davies.
“Among other things, it appears to be a vote of no-confidence in teachers. The values of truth and honesty are modelled each day in the classroom by teachers as well as in General Religious Education (GRE) that covers moral values across a variety of world views. Is there such an ethical hole in the current system? If so, then teach it as part of the curriculum rather than allowing a non-religious group to enter the realm of SRE.”
Special Religious Education, as it has been practised in our schools for more than 120 years, provides a valuable link with community groups – the local religious institutions. I can’t understand why the Premier doesn’t value that,” says Bishop Davies. “To give this group special treatment is not a way to build confidence in the public system.”
“I could understand parents being concerned if there were vast numbers of students left idle during SRE, but we do not believe that is the case. For students who do not participate, there are many ways that they are managed during SRE. It is a rare school where such students are not meaningfully engaged during this time. Teachers and SRE providers generally work well together. In our case, we will continue to deploy 2500 voluntary teachers (trained, authorised and screened) each week. Churches and faith institutions are long established in the community, if this group wants accreditation as a religious body it should go through the normal processes.”
“I want to assure teachers that we support the job they are doing and the valuable co-operation between principals, school staff and religious groups that goes on every week all over New South Wales,” says Bishop Davies.
(Background: Non-religious ethics classes for NSW schools.)
Who Made God?
Tim Challies has conducted an interesting interview with Edgar Andrews, author of the new book “Who Made God?” – at Challies.com.
He reviews the book here. (The book doesn’t appear to be available in Australia just yet.)
We will not bend the knee to Caesar (Why I signed The Manhattan Declaration)
“I signed The Manhattan Declaration because it is a limited statement of Christian conviction on these three crucial issues, and not a wide-ranging theological document that subverts confessional integrity.
I cannot and do not sign documents such as Evangelicals and Catholics Together that attempt to establish common ground on vast theological terrain. I could not sign a statement that purports, for example, to bridge the divide between Roman Catholics and evangelicals on the doctrine of justification.
The Manhattan Declaration is not a manifesto for united action. It is a statement of urgent concern and common conscience on these three issues — the sanctity of human life, the integrity of marriage, and the defense of religious liberty.”
– Albert Mohler on why he was one of the first to sign The Manhattan Declaration.
‘Catholic church reneges on Anglican offer’
No, not that offer.
“The Catholic Church in the central Victorian city of Bendigo has withdrawn an offer to let Anglicans use one of its churches…”
– from ABC News. (Image: Diocese of Bendigo.)
Free Church suspends talks with Kirk
“The Free Church of Scotland has decided to suspend its regular discussions with the Church of Scotland.
The biannual talks involved representatives of both denominations and had been taking place over the past 5 years. They involved a frank but friendly exchange on the theological issues which divided the two denominations, along with an acknowledgement of the good relations which exist in many localities between congregations of both churches.
However, the Free Church has said that, in the light of the uncertainty over the Kirk’s position on homosexuality following the induction of an allegedly gay minister earlier this year, which appeared to be sanctioned by their General Assembly, it cannot for the time being continue ‘as if nothing had happened.’ Read more
Rowan’s Roman Bluff
“For a man hardly renowned for his robustness, the recent speech given in Rome by the Archbishop of Canterbury was remarkably robust. Of course, it was given partly in response to the announcement from Rome on October 20th of effectively a ‘safe haven’ for Anglicans disenchanted by the policies of the Church over which Rowan Williams presides…”
– John Richardson also writes about the Archbishop of Canterbury’s address in Rome — at The Ugley Vicar.
Rowan in Rome: Retreat from Reason
Charles Raven writes about the Archbishop of Canterbury’s visit to the Vatican:
“the implausibility of Williams position starts to become evident when, presumably without blushing, he commends the Anglican Covenant process…”
Apparently unabashed by the chaotic state of the Communion he represents, Rowan William’s provocative address to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in Rome last Thursday was noted by the media for its strong challenge to the Roman Catholic Church’s position on the ordination of women, but its real significance is that it reveals an Archbishop who, far from being discouraged, does really seem to believe his own propaganda, even to the extent that, the recent humiliation of his non-consultation over the Ordinariate notwithstanding, he offers recent Anglican practice as a model for the Vatican to follow in ecumenical relationships. Read more
The Articles once more
“The Thirty-nine Articles provide the only secure anchor for an authentic Anglican identity. This is after all the foundational doctrinal statement of the reformed church of England, drafted by the reforming bishops, endorsed by the lay members of the church in parliament, and situated as the touchstone of Anglican theology and practice ever since. Whatever other categories, principles or documents may be presented as integral to the heart of Anglicanism, the simple fact is that the Articles tell Anglicans who they are.”
– Read all of ACL President Mark Thompson’s post at Theological Theology.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…