J. I. Packer’s rare Puritan library digitised and available online
In one of the sad attempts to deal with faithful, Bible-believing clergy, in 2008, the then Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster issued a ‘notice of presumption of abandonment of the exercise of ministry’ to Dr J.I. Packer, and others.
As well as being a much-loved and respected theologian and preacher, Dr. Packer is a foremost Puritan historian.
“The John Richard Allison Library in Vancouver—which hosts the joint collections of Regent College and Carey Theological College—has now made available their entire rare Puritan collection to be read online for free. What a gift of modern technology to help us recover these gifts from the church of the past.
There are currently 80 Puritan authors in their collection, many of whose works were digitized from J. I. Packer’s private library.”
– Justin Taylor at the Gospel Coalition has a list of the titles and links to the digitised versions.
‘Day 2 – The facade begins to crumble’
“As we reported yesterday, all the GAFCON and some Global South (GS) Primates declined to attend Communion in the morning.
We have little details of discussions during the day but the most dramatic moment was evensong at 5.30pm when it very quickly became apparent that a large number of Primates were missing, not even attending as they had done on Monday…”
– At StandFirm, David Ould has some reports on the Primates’ meeting, Day 2. Please be very much in prayer for all involved.
“Dear Prayer Supporters,
The discussions at Canterbury are at a crucial stage and we know that God is sovereign, hence we ask you to pray with us:
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
We turn once more to you in faith,
Interceding for the Primates of the Anglican Communion as they meet in Canterbury.
Please use their endeavors to hallow your great name;
May your kingdom come;
May your will be done in earth as it is in heaven.
Uphold your word in the church we pray, so guiding us to live godly and obedient lives, not compromising with this world, but holding forth the gospel of salvation without fear,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenYours in Christ Service
Peter Jensen
GAFCON General Secretary.”
Update: Evening of Day 3 (Wednesday), UK time.
(Photo: Canterbury Cathedral via Primates2016.)
Prohibiting offensive Sermons
“A recent decision in Northern Ireland, where an evangelical preacher was acquitted after being criminally charged in relation to a sermon attacking Islam, raises a number of important issues about free speech in a religious setting…”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster takes a close look at what the UK case was – and wasn’t – about, as well as asking how free speech and freedom of religion might be protected here in Australia.
Prayer for the Primates’ Gathering
A good prayer to pray –
“Almighty God
to whom all will someday give an account;instil, we pray,
within the hearts of all Primates of the Anglican Communion,
a holy fear
that they may love you and your Word
more than the approval of men;this we ask through our only Mediator and Head of the Church,
Jesus Christ,
who evermore lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit.Amen.”
– from GAFCON.
‘The spinning has started against orthodox Anglican archbishops’
“…there is a danger that if the Archbishop of Canterbury’s meeting of global Anglican archbishops next week goes south, orthodox leaders could find themselves on the end of some New Labour-style spinning.
It appears to have already started…”
– The Rev. Julian Mann writes at The Conservative Woman. Let’s hope this is not so. Thanks to Anglican Mainstream for the link.
Possibly related: What can we learn from Jesus’s hospitality? – on the Primates 2016 website. (Logo courtesy of the Anglican Communion Office.)
Remembering John Reid
Phillip Jensen, former Dean of Sydney, writes to give thanks for Bishop John Reid, “a great man of God who faithfully and lovingly stood for the truth of the Gospel”.
Here’s a taste –
- “He consistently upheld the great truths of the gospel, always graciously pointing to the Saviour by expounding God’s word. He was committed to the truths expounded in the Reformation, while diplomatically developing relationships with those who did not share them.
- He was his own man, (or rather Christ’s man) but he was a great admirer of John Stott and Marcus Loane, and ministered with the same kind of intelligent care in the use of words as those two giants.
- He was humble, generous and hospitable – always the first to wash up or put people at their ease. He never played the Bishop card, as if he were something special and above the ordinary.”
(Bishop Reid’s funeral will be held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney, at 10:00am on Thursday 14th January.)
Seven reasons not to gamble
“Managers don’t gamble with their Master’s money. All you have belongs to God. All of it. Faithful trustees may not gamble with a trust fund. They have no right.”
– at Desiring God, John Piper gives seven reasons Christians shouldn’t play the lotteries.
His reasons apply just as well to other forms of gambling – and to Australian Christians every bit as much as to our American friends.
See also:
“Buried in last week’s national accounts was the startling statistic that Australian punters bet a record $6.5 billion in the September quarter, equating to $1000 a year for every Australian.”
– Sydney Morning Herald, 07 December 2015.
“Looks like Australia is the gambling capital of the world, again.”
– Business Spectator, 07 February 2014.
Must Canterbury Fall?
“The current power struggle is about redefining and recasting the faith of the historic Anglican Communion. …
The Episcopal Church has tried to occupy that centre of influence in order to shape the communion according to its vision of the Christian faith, untethered from the authority of scripture. Canterbury under the previous leadership allowed TEC space and even support with its Communion Changing agenda.”
– With the Primates’ meeting just days away, Vinay Samuel and Chris Sugden write this opinion piece (also published at Anglican Mainstream) in The Church of England Newspaper. They appear to take a more optimistic view of Canterbury than many. Time will tell.
Why GAFCON truly matters
“We are now walking in a new spiritual darkness. The churches are ill-prepared. But God is thoroughly prepared; he is not at a loss. There is nothing to fear; but we need to work out what new tactics are required for this new context. Without doubt, we will walk by faith; but what does this mean?”
– GAFCON General Secretary Peter Jensen writes an encouraging reminder of why we need GAFCON.
From the Vault: Are we stronger then He?
Bible Reading Plans for 2016
The start of a new year is always a good time to recommit to reading and treasuring God’s Word.
The team at Ligonier Ministries have compiled a very useful list of plans you can use.
Related:
The One Must-Read this Year – John Piper.
Reading the whole Bible in 2016 – more plans and encouragement via Justin Taylor.
The Queen’s Christmas message 2015
Queen Elizabeth II has released her 2015 Christmas Message.
And you can also read the Christmas 2015 sermon from Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, preached at Canterbury Cathedral. In part, he says, –
“Today, across the Middle East, close to the area in which the angels announced God’s apocalypse, ISIS and others claim that this is the time of an apocalypse, an unveiling created of their own terrible ideas, one which is igniting a trail of fear, violence, hatred and determined oppression. Confident that these are the last days, using force and indescribable cruelty, they seem to welcome all opposition, certain that the warfare unleashed confirms that these are indeed the end times. They hate difference, whether it is Muslims who think differently, Yazidis or Christians, and because of them the Christians face elimination in the very region in which Christian faith began. This apocalypse is defined by themselves and heralded only by the angel of death.”
9Marks Journal on Missions: Adding Wisdom to Zeal
The latest issue of 9Marks Journal is up on their website, and is full of encouraging articles with headings like “Ways your church can get involved in Global Missions starting tomorrow”.
Going to a CMS Summer School? (Not going to a CMS Summer School?) Thinking about the year ahead? This will be a very worthwhile issue to read.
Should Evangelicals evolve on Homosexuality?
“While acceptance of homosexuality may be a growing trend among professing evangelicals, still the majority of evangelicals simply aren’t convinced. Evangelicals, for the most part, aren’t buying the arguments the ‘gay Christian movement’ is selling.
According to Rosaria, the leading merchant for the gay Christian movement is Matthew Vines. He believes it’s possible to practice homosexuality and genuinely profess Christianity…”
– At Desiring God, Phillip Holmes sits down for a coffee and chat with Rosaria Butterfield.
Read his article and watch both videos from the conversation.
Insightful comments on the nature and danger of sin.
Related: Human Sexuality and the ‘Same Sex Marriage’ Debate — a review.
Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?
“Hard times come with hard questions, and our cultural context exerts enormous pressure on Christians to affirm common ground at the expense of theological differences. But the cost of getting this question wrong is the loss of the Gospel.”
– Albert Mohler answers the question in the light of controversy over the suspension of a professor at Wheaton College.
Related: Thinking Theologically About Islam – Kevin DeYoung.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…