When you lose your salvation based on a technicality

“When coming across stories like these, it is very tempting to use them to bash Roman Catholicism or to win an argument. It is imperative to resist these sinful temptations…”

– At The Cripplegate, Jordan Standridge looks at a recent news story which illustrates the divide between the Church of Rome and biblical Christianity.

The washup from lockdown: What can we pray for our churches?

From The Australian Church Record:

“We don’t need to talk to too many church pastors to see that the last two years have been extraordinarily difficult. Of course, there have also been many blessings – and we know that God is always at work for his glory and the good of his people. So as our churches begin their third year under COVID, the ACR thought it would be helpful for us to begin the year by praying for one another.

The Sydney Anglican Diocese is a fellowship of churches partnering together in the gospel for the glory and Kingdom of our great God. There are many ways in which we can and should express this fellowship, and one great way is by praying for one another.

Over the next few weeks, the ACR will be sharing prayer points from various church pastors from within the Sydney Anglican Diocese. Will you join me in praying for these churches? What better way to express our fellowship as churches than by mimicking Paul in his relationship with the Philippian church, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer (Phil 1:3-5).”

– The ACR has begun publishing prayer requests – so far, from St. Peter’s Cooks River and St Stephen’s, Willoughby.

Is the future for the Church of England’s General Synod… Dan Andrews?

“The readiness of the English middle classes to sacrifice democracy on the altar of political correctness was evident at last week’s meeting of the Church of England’s General Synod.

It was during a debate on the dry subject of the CofE’s governance structures that the growing anti-democratic spirit on this largely democratically elected body asserted itself. …”

– At Anglican Ink, Julian Mann looks at some disturbing moves in the Church of England’s General Synod.

Ways forward on same sex marriage — Church Society

Church Society’s Director Lee Gatiss looks at the various possibilities open to the Church of England as it debates same-sex marriage.

A clear look at the options, and a restatement of what needs to be done.

Archbishop Janani Luwum — martyr for Christ — remembered

Forty-five years ago today, Archbishop Janani Luwum, Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire, was assassinated, apparently on the orders of Ugandan President Idi Amin.

The event was a turning point – both for Uganda and for the Church.

Read about Archbishop Luwum at the Church of Uganda website and give thanks for his courage in the face of death as well as for the resulting preaching of the gospel.

Photo of Archbishop Luwum with President Idi Amin (right) via this article at Taarifa Rwanda –

“The Archbishop was separated from his bishops. As he was taken away Archbishop Luwum turned to his brother bishops and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I see God’s hand in this.’

The next morning it was announced that Archbishop Luwum had been killed in a car crash.

His body was placed in a sealed coffin and sent to his native village for burial there.

However, the villagers opened the coffin and discovered the bullet holes.”

The story of the Bible in Australasia, 1788-1850

Dr Meredith Lake, author of The Bible in Australia: a cultural history, is speaking on “The story of the Bible in Australasia, 1788-1850” on Wednesday 6th April at Moore College.

– Details here.

Five ordained as Deacons at Bathurst Cathedral

“The Anglican Diocese of Bathurst ordained five new deacons at a special service at the All Saints Anglican Cathedral on Saturday.

Mark Calder, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst, was on hand to ordain Ben Mackay, Roger and Sally Phelps, Bec Choi and James Daymond into the church. …

Bishop Calder said the ordination service is one of the largest in recent times.
‘It’s one of the largest ordinations in recent times but the other significant thing is that they’re younger then people who have typical been ordained in recent years’…”

– Encouraging news from The Central Western Daily – and a great reminder to pray for the continued progress of the saving news of Jesus in the Diocese of Bathurst.

I Remember … When I was Licensed to Preach The Gospel

Presbyterian minister Bob Thomas shares his remembrances and encouragements. (For many years he served as the Editor of Australian Presbyterian Life, and also New Life Christian newspaper.)  –

“We’re in the middle of the Licensing Season, that time of year when this year’s crop of exit students has finished their formal studies and are about to embark on their exit appointments. Licensing marks this transition and confers on the licentiate the right to accept a call or appointment on the way to ordination. It’s a wonderful time in the church’s year, when a fresh platoon of front-line soldiers goes forth with stars in their eyes and hope in their hearts to win the world for Christ. …”

– Read it at AP.

See also:

The Crisis of ’77. (June 2017)

New Archdeacon takes on new role

“Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has announced a newly-created position to assist him as he further settles into the office to which he was elected last May.

The Reverend Canon Simon Flinders is to become Archdeacon to the Archbishop. …”

– Story from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Church Society podcast — Reading the Bible Better

Here’s the latest podcast from Church Society in the UK –

“In this week’s episode, Chris Moore and Lee Gatiss discuss how we can read the Bible more and better. They talk about different Bible translations, how to establish a good routine, listening to audio Bibles, using devotional resources, singing and saying the Scriptures aloud. …”

– Listen here.

No Shortcut to Success

In a recent episode of the Pastors Talk podcast from 9Marks, Jonathan Leeman and Mark Dever commend the book “No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions”. They also chat with the author, Matt Rhodes.

While primarily on the topic of missions, it’s an encouragement for those labouring at home.

– Listen at 9Marks.

Bible Gateway removes The Passion Translation

“A Bible version designed to ‘recapture the emotion of God’s Word’ was removed from Bible Gateway last week. The Passion Translation (TPT) is listed as ‘no longer available’ among the site’s 90 English-language Bible offerings.

First released as a New Testament in 2017, The Passion Translation includes additions that do not appear in the source manuscripts, phrases meant to draw out God’s ‘tone’ and ’heart’ in each passage. …”

– Story from Christianity Today.

Related:

Burning Scripture with Passion: A Review of The Psalms (The Passion Translation) – Andrew Shead, April 2018.

“Brian Simmons has made a new translation of the Psalms (and now the whole New Testament) which aims to ‘re-introduce the passion and fire of the Bible to the English reader.’ He achieves this by abandoning all interest in textual accuracy, playing fast and loose with the original languages, and inserting so much new material into the text that it is at least 50% longer than the original.”

The Passion “Translation” of Romans: Problems and questions – Lionel Windsor, November 2017.

Dual Citizens podcast

David Ould has recently started a podcast which many will find of interest –

Dual Citizens is “a podcast analysing current affairs, informed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Covering various topics weekly, Dual Citizens explains how Christianity holds an important sense of relevancy in contemporary society, and how all Christians are ‘dual citizens’ belonging to two places; their country, and Jesus’ heavenly kingdom.”

Check it out here.

Religious Discrimination Bill stalled by hasty amendments — Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney Media Statement

Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney

Media Statement

Religious Discrimination Bill stalled by hasty amendments

We are deeply disappointed that the passage of the Religious Discrimination Bill has been stalled. People of faith have been waiting for this since 2018, and there seems to be broad agreement on both sides of the House that legal protection against discrimination on the basis of religious belief is necessary and long overdue.

It is regrettable that the passage of the Religious Discrimination Bill – which is about Religious Discrimination, and Religious Discrimination only – is being held hostage to rushed changes to the Sex Discrimination Act relating to students.

There have been claims that religious schools are harming trans and gay students and further claims that they want the legal right to do so. This is the opposite of what happens.  Religious schools provide exceptional pastoral care to all students (which is one of the reasons why parents choose to send their children to these schools).

Many MPs seem to have given scant regard to how to protect those of religious faith and the positive contribution of individuals, churches and religious organisations to the community. Instead, the central intent of the bill has been overshadowed and derailed by the discussion of the exemptions section of s38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Act.

As we have seen from hasty amendments made in the middle of last night, this issue is complex, which is why it was referred to the Australian Law Reform Commission to address. Nevertheless, if the removal of s.38(3) is the only means by which the Bill can progress, we call on the government and opposition to work together to resolve the technical issues and bring this matter to a resolution before the next Federal election.

People of religious faith in Australia, of all beliefs and backgrounds, deserve the equal protection that such a bill was intended to give. The benevolent religious organisations they have established and maintain also need the stability that well-considered legislation would provide. There is goodwill on our part to proceed and we call for a bipartisan approach that would progress this very important Bill.

Bishop Michael Stead, Chair, Religious Freedom Reference Group and Bishop of South Sydney 

February 10, 2022.

Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.

Government “shelves religious freedom bill indefinitely”

From ABC News, 1:22pm:

“The government has indefinitely shelved its bid to overhaul religious freedom laws, leaving one of the Coalition’s central 2019 election commitments hanging in uncertainty.

After a marathon sitting of the House of Representatives, where laws passed early on Thursday, the government failed to bring the matter on for debate in the Senate.

Coalition sources have confirmed the government is all but guaranteed not to bring it back for debate when the Senate next sits in March.

That is because the government does not want further debate about religious freedoms to hijack its plans to sell a pre-election budget.”

– Source.

Update: The Australian Christian Lobby’s Martyn Iles gave his take on the events of the day in this video.

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