Truthing in love

“Have you heard the saying ‘speak the truth in love’?

It appears quite often as a heading in blog posts that have titles such as ‘Seven top principles for using social media’. The phrase is normally used to mean something like ‘say true things in a charitable way’. The idea is this: sometimes you have to say hard and challenging things; when you do, make sure you’re using a gracious tone.

But do you know where the saying comes from? …”

– Even if you know the answer, you will be encouraged by this article from Lionel Windsor, at GoThereFor.com.

ANZAC Righteousness

“ANZAC Day reminds us that morally some wars have to be fought. Everyone must grapple with the issues of a just and moral war and the leaders of our nation need our prayers for wisdom.

ANZAC Day reminds us that in every age the reality of human sinfulness can become so deep that its lunacy, its terrorism, its attacks on the best of our humanity must be stopped.

ANZAC Day reminds us of the best of men and women in the fight for righteousness. Oh that all Australians would realise that when righteousness is under threat we have no alternative but to fight. The alternative to not fighting is to succumb to evil. …”

– Bishop of Armidale, Rick Lewers, reflects on ANZAC Day, and the need to pray.

The prosperity gospel — no gospel at all

“What do you long for the most? The answer to this question will help you identify your god.

Preachers of the prosperity gospel call people to turn to Jesus. But the motivation they give people is health, wealth, husbands, wives, jobs, promotions etc.

In this version of the gospel, Jesus is not what is truly desired, pursued, and treasured. Jesus is the means to the things that the individual truly wants, he is merely the way to receive the material things that our worldly hearts hunger for. And what your heart wants more than God has become your god.”

– GAFCON has published four posts on the prosperity gospel by the Rev Ken Mbugua, Senior pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Nairobi, Kenya.

Related:

The pernicious evil of the prosperity gospel and the theology of the cross – Dr. Mark Thompson.

Moore Matters — Autumn 2017

The latest issue of Moore Matters, the Moore College newsletter, is now available.

Copies have been sent to churches, but if you missed out, you can download your copy from the College – on this page – or here’s the direct link to the file (a 10.5MB PDF file).

Among the articles is this one from Colin Bale on Marcus Loane’s Masters of the English Reformation:

“Marcus Loane’s Masters of the English Reformation was first published in 1954 and remains in print sixty-three years later.

The long period of the work being in print is a testimony not only to its important focus but also to its readability for successive generations.

The book presents biographical profiles of five key English reformers—Thomas Bilney, William Tyndale, Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley and Thomas Cranmer—showing how they contended for the truth in the period 1516 to 1556. Loane describes the vfie men as ‘Masters’ because, convicted of the truth of the gospel, their contributions were incredibly significant to the cause of Reformation in England.”

Read it all on page 10.

Also in this issue:

 

Bishop of Oxford and the relational dilemma for Reformed Anglicans

“On Palm Sunday in St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford, their new diocesan Bishop, the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, made a statement that epitomises the relational dilemma facing Reformed Anglicans in the Church of England.

Introducing his excellent sermon on our Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem as recorded in Matthew 21, Dr Croft said:

‘It’s my hope to come as a servant to this very large Diocese, to respect and honour all traditions within it and cherish the life of the Church in its many different forms and do my best to lead us in God’s mission.’ …

His sermon was most edifying, biblically faithful and Christ-honouring. Lord willing, he will do a lot of good in Oxford Diocese.

But the difficulty for a Reformed Anglican church such as St Ebbe’s surely comes in their Bishop’s apparently intentional commitment to theological diversity within the Church of England. …”

– The Rev Julian Mann wonders what reformed Anglicans should do when their bishop endorses ‘theological diversity’.

Photo of Bishop Croft: Diocese of Oxford.

Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer

Back in January, we noted that this documentary on Martin Luther (featuring contributions by R.C.Sproul, Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson, Carl Trueman and other reformed theologians) would be released in April. 

It is now available – on DVD or as on-demand video. Check it out and see how you might use it during this 500th year of the Reformation.

“Discover the story behind the man who sparked the Protestant Reformation. Told through a seamless combination of live-action storytelling and artistic animation, Martin Luther’s daring life is presented in extensive detail while still making the film relevant, daring, and accessible.”

Five reasons Reformation Anglicanism is relevant

“The church is meant to be a beacon, marking out the safe path to true wholeness and hope. Sadly, however, the church today often capitulates to the world’s narrative without ever being aware of it. Our preaching can easily reinforce that we are what we do, telling people they must focus on doing things pleasing to God so he will continue to accept them. Yet true Christianity bases all its hope on what God has promised to do in, through, and for us because of his love—not on what we must try to do to earn it.

Here is the core message of Reformation Anglicanism. Forged in a time when the Western church had lost its way, its five characteristics illumine the authentic gospel once again for the 21st century. …”

– from Ashley Null, via The Gospel Coalition.

(Photo courtesy Trinity School for Ministry.)

‘What the New York Times gets wrong about complementarianism’

“Baird relies heavily on critics of complementarianism to define complementarianism. I suspect that is a major reason why the picture is so flawed. Baird quotes a feminist writer… who argues that complementarianism makes women into unwilling participants in their own marriage covenant.”

– Denny Burk writes at The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, with a response to Julia Baird’s recent article published in The New York Times. Read her article, and his response, and see if you agree.

Real faith in a performance dominated world

“We live in a world that constantly judges us by how well we perform. From preschool reports to professional annual reviews, performance assessments are everywhere.

Of course, in many cases it is entirely appropriate to assess performance. Businesses need to perform for their customers, politicians for their constituents, employees for their employers, sportspeople and artists for their fans. Assessing performance can help us make wise decisions about whom to buy from, vote for, employ, watch or listen to.

However, this focus on performance can easily become a burden. In our workplaces the anxiety of being constantly measured and assessed can be a major source of stress and depression. Even worse, the demand for performance can affect our friendships, our relationships and our family life.

Is our relationship with God based on our performance? Does God ‘assess’ us to determine our standing with him? …”

– ACL Council member, Dr Lionel Windsor, writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.

The dignity of work

Moore College’s next Centre for Christian Living event for the year will be on ‘The dignity of work’.

What is the nature of work? Does God care about our work? What role does work play in the Christian life?

Chase Kuhn and Peter Orr are speaking on the nature of work and its place in the Christian life – on Wednesday 17 May, from 7:30 to 9:30pm in the Marcus Loane Hall, at Moore College.

More details from the College.

Can kids tell other kids about Jesus at school?

“Astonishingly, the answer to the question posed here, recently provided by the Queensland Department of Education and Training is: No!

In their latest reviews of material used in Special Religious Instruction (SRI) offered in public schools in that State, they assert as follows:

While not explicitly prohibited by the [relevant legislation], nor referenced in the [Departmental published] RI policy statement, the Department expects schools to take appropriate action if aware that students participating in RI are evangelising to students who do not participate in their RI class, given this could adversely affect the school’s ability to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all students.

(This statement is found both in the Report on the Review of the GodSpace Religious Instruction Materials, March 2017, at para 3.1.1 on p 5, and in the Report on the Review of the ACCESS ministries’ Religious Instruction Materials, Feb 2017, at para 3.1.1 on p 6.)

In this post I want to explain why this over-reaching bureaucratic imposition is not justified by the law governing the Department’s activities, and indeed is probably illegal. …”

– Posted a few days ago, Neil Foster, Associate Professor in Law at Newcastle, gives his opinion on directives from the Queensland Department of Education and Training.

Queen’s Birthday Conference 2017

This year’s Two Ways Ministries’ Queen’s Birthday Conference will be held on the Queen’s Birthday public holiday, Monday 12th June.  Read more

The Message of the Resurrection

“There are several aspects of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ dwelt upon in the New Testament. It is profitable for us to consider two of them as we recall this outstanding event.

An aspect which is frequently overlooked in these days is brought prominently under our notice by St. Paul’s speech at Athens. Addressing Epicureans and Stoics Paul declared,

‘God commandeth all men everywhere to repent; Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead’ (Acts 17:30-31).

The Resurrection is a guarantee of judgment as it is an endorsement of the claim of our Lord to be the judge.”

– The Australian Church Record has republished this timely message from Archdeacon T.C. Hammond.

If Christ is Not Risen…

“I’ve always had something of an aversion to the ‘if Christianity is not true what do you lose’ sort of apologetical approach — precisely because Scripture is God’s word and because it is perfect in all that God reveals in it.

To raise the question almost seems to inadvertantly jeopardize the veracity of it. Nevertheless, that is precisely the kind of reasoning that the Apostle Paul utilized in 1 Corinthians 15 after he appealed to the clear teaching of Scripture about Jesus’ death and resurrection …”

– Nick Batzig writes at Reformation21.

A Legal Evaluation of the Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus

“On this Easter long weekend, as Christians around the world are remembering and celebrating the key events of the faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, readers may find a paper I wrote a little while ago helpful in evaluating the legal status of the various pieces of evidence supporting the fact of the resurrection. …”

– Our thanks to Neil Foster at Law and Religion Australia for these resources.

← Previous Page — Next Page →