‘Saying this Ad lies is a lie’

“Journalists and same-sex marriage activists claim the ad for the no campaign tells lies. But that is the real lie …“

– On SkyNews Australia, Herald-Sun’s Andrew Bolt looks at reaction to the first Coalition for Marriage television ad.

Related:

Fact checking the ‘No’ ad on same-sex marriage – ABC’s Triple J Hack.

Shorten blames Turnbull for ‘total rubbish’ TV ad from same-sex marriage opponents – SMH.

Key posts from August 2017

Here are some key posts you might have missed. Not surprisingly, most of them are relevant to the postal plebiscite on proposals to change the definition of marriage:

God and ‘The Wrath’

“C.H. Dodd prefers the translation ‘the Wrath of God’ to Moffatt’s ‘God’s anger’ in Rom. 1:18, ‘because such an archaic phrase suits a thoroughly archaic idea,’ while Nicolas Berdyaev writes ‘Anger in every shape and form is foreign to God.’ …

In such words many modern writers give expression to their conviction that God cannot be thought of as exercising wrath towards men, so that where the Scripture speaks of ‘the wrath of God’ it must either be explained away or abandoned. …”

– The wrath of God, in passages such as Romans 1, is never popular. Leon Morris, writing in 1955, explains that the concept of the wrath of God is necessary if he is also a righteous God. Republished online at The Australian Church Record.

Not all Equality is Equal

“One of the central mantras of the campaign to redefine marriage is that it’s all about ‘equality’. We hear the language of ‘equal marriage’, ‘marriage equality’ and even the claim that homosexuals are, somehow, ‘second-class citizens’.

What are we to make of this claim? I think the key is to establish quite what proponents have in mind when they speak of ‘equality’. To get clarity on this question we should turn to the most consistent of those pushing hard for a ‘yes’ vote in the upcoming postal survey (notwithstanding their refusal to committing to honour the result). Here in Australia perhaps one of the proponents with most integrity in this regard is the MP Tanya Plibersek, member for Sydney. …”

– David Ould asks what exactly it is that proponents of ‘marriage equality’ are talking about.

(Photo courtesy of the website of The Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP.)

Related:

This short video tries the approach of logic.

“Let’s be clear. This isn’t personal. The people making the argument for same-sex marriage are our family, they’re our friends, they’re our colleagues. We love them and we don’t think they’re failures at all. It’s the argument being used to justify a change in marriage that is a failure. This isn’t personal, it’s logical.”

CBMW releases Nashville Statement on Biblical Sexuality

“The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) announced August 29th the release of The Nashville Statement, an evangelical coalition statement on biblical sexuality. …

The statement, comprised of 14 affirmations and denials, addresses issues related to human sexuality, ‘in the hope of serving Christ’s church,’ according to the statement’s preamble.”

– Announcement from the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

Read ‘The Nashville Statement’.

From the Preamble –

“Evangelical Christians at the dawn of the twenty-first century find themselves living in a period of historic transition. As Western culture has become increasingly post-Christian, it has embarked upon a massive revision of what it means to be a human being.

By and large the spirit of our age no longer discerns or delights in the beauty of God’s design for human life. Many deny that God created human beings for his glory, and that his good purposes for us include our personal and physical design as male and female.

It is common to think that human identity as male and female is not part of God’s beautiful plan, but is, rather, an expression of an individual’s autonomous preferences.

The pathway to full and lasting joy through God’s good design for his creatures is thus replaced by the path of shortsighted alternatives that, sooner or later, ruin human life and dishonor God. …”

Related:

In today’s issue of The Briefing, Albert Mohler commends the statement and gives some background.

He explains the huge importance of speaking clearly about such matters. He also relates some of the early responses, and how they demonstrate the worldviews of the commentators. Take the time to listen.

New Primate of the Indian Ocean

“Bishop James Wong of the Seychelles has been elected as the new Archbishop and Primate of the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean. He succeeds Archbishop Ian Ernest who served for 11 years. …

Before his episcopal election, he was … Chairman of Scripture Union Mauritius.”

– Report from The Anglican Communion News Service.

Church flees into exile

“An entire Diocese of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan is operating from Northern Uganda after being forced to flee from civil unrest, leaving the main centre, Kajo-Keji, a ghost town.

The diocese was home to hundreds of thousands of Sudanese, including 280,000 Anglicans. As long-standing partners of the Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid, operations and project manager Eddie Ozols flew to Uganda last month to investigate further ways of helping a church plunged into exile in makeshift refugee camps. …”

– A heartbreaking story from SydneyAnglicans.net.

Related: Anglican Aid.

Moore College and Cornhill Sydney in gospel partnership

In a new video from Moore College, Principal, Mark Thompson, chats with Gavin Perkins, Director of Cornhill Sydney.

They share how their organisations work together in helping form and equip gospel workers.

Presbyterian resources on Marriage

The Gospel, Society & Culture Committee of the Presbyterian Church in NSW has a number of resources concerning Christians and Marriage – on their website, and their Facebook page.

See also their resource paper: Engaging the Marriage Debate.

Kay Goldsworthy elected Archbishop of Perth

An announcement from the Diocese of Perth:

“I write to share with you the highly anticipated announcement of the election of the eighth Archbishop of Perth.   Read more

Hugh Palmer interview at Moore College

Hugh Palmer, Rector of All Souls Langham Place in London, recently visited Moore College.

He shares his impressions of Moore College, and speaks of the need for a thorough theological education.

Watch this 5 minute interview.

The Bible and Same-Sex Marriage: A Response to Robyn Whitaker and Amy-Jill Levine

“Christians seeking guidance in the upcoming same-sex marriage ballot will naturally turn to the Bible. But what does the Bible actually say about marriage and sexuality?

It can be confusing when there are so many claims circulating about biblical scholarship on these matters. However, the Bible itself is clearer than often claimed. The real question is not simply what the Bible says, but rather what we do with what it says.

Last week, the ABC republished an article by Robyn Whitaker, claiming to be a ‘summary of critical biblical scholarship on the issue.’…”

– ABC’s Religion and Ethics has published this response by Dr Lionel Windsor to claims published by the ABC last week.

Network Ten admits doctoring controversial footage

“Network Ten has admitted to digitally doctoring footage for a news item on the alleged spitefulness of the same sex marriage debate, digitally superimposing a homophobic image sourced online onto a stock image of a random bus stop. …”

– The Australian. (Subscription.)

See also:

Commentary from The Herald Sun. 28 August 2017.

Media Watch, ABC TV. 28 August 2017.

Screenshot of the stock image for purchase from Getty Images.

Constitutional challenge to anti-discrimination laws

“Two preachers subject to a complaint for preaching against homosexuality and same-sex marriage have launched action to halt the case on constitutional grounds, in a challenge that could invalidate state anti-discrimination laws.

A complaint against Hobart Pres­byterian pastor Campbell Mark­ham and street evangelist Da­vid Gee was accepted last month by Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Com­miss­ioner Sarah Bolt. But the preachers have filed a Supreme Court application seeking to strike out the complaint on the ground the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act is unconstitutional…”

– Story by Matthew Denholm in The Australian. (Subscription)

Related:

I was born in a free country – Campbell Markham.

Why I fight for free speech – Campbell Markham.

Same sex marriage: Christian Lobby makes bias complaint against ABC

“A complaint of bias has been made against the ABC after a news presenter appeared to suggest gay marriage opponents had no right to cheer gay athletes, such as Ian Thorpe. …”

– Story from The Australian. (Subscription.)

Watch the full interview in question here. Image: ABC TV.

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