Fourth of July Reflections on a Changing America
“For Christians, the issue of patriotism is always complicated by our citizenship in two realms, one earthly and one heavenly. The Bible teaches that we have duties to our earthly nation, including obeying laws, paying taxes, and honoring our leaders (Rom. 13:1-7).
At the same time, we are subjects of the eternal kingdom of Christ. Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mt. 22:21). This dual citizenship presents serious complications when the civil and the divine authorities strongly conflict…”
– At Reformation21, Rick Phillips looks at America on the eve of Independence Day.
Latest George Whitefield College newsletter
In the latest newsletter from George Whitefield College in Capetown, new Principal Mark Dickson asks, “Please pray that God will enable me to continue to build upon the legacy of David Broughton Knox and David Seccombe in leading GWC to realise its vision.”
– Get the latest from the college in this 1.2MB PDF file from their website.
100 Days with Pope Francis
“Roughly one hundred days ago, March 12th 2013, Cardinal Bergoglio was elected to the chair of Peter becoming Pope Francis…”
– At Reformation21, Leonardo De Chirico looks at the new Pope’s first hundred days.
“Waiting for the Other Shoe” — The Supreme Court rules on Same-Sex Marriage
“On the last day of its term, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today on two same-sex marriage cases. Both are important cases, and both will go far in redefining the most basic institution of human civilization…
Even though the Court did not rule today that all states must legally recognize and allow for same-sex marriages, the handwriting is on the wall. Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion implicitly invites any citizen who resides in a state that does not allow for same-sex marriage to claim that his or her constitutional rights are violated on the basis of the Court’s opinion handed down today.”
– Albert Mohler writes on today’s big news in the USA.
A vision for 21st century Anglicans — Church Society Conference audio
Church Society held a half-day conference on 1st June – the topic: Reformed Foundations, Reforming Future: A vision for 21st century Anglicans.
Audio files are now available – direct links to mp3 files.
Guest speaker was Peter Adam. His topic was Trusting our Saviour and Reforming the Church Today. Very encouraging talk.
“It is fatal to trust Christ for the invisible Church, and not to trust him for the visible Church… God has already appointed his Messiah – we need not apply for the job.”
Church Society Director Lee Gatiss also spoke, on
‘Confessional’ Anglicanism and the 39 Articles.
SPCKA winter newsletter 2013
The latest SPCKA newsletter is now out.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Dr Megan Best, palliative care doctor and ethicist, was recently interviewed by Justine Toh on some of the moral issues facing our nation. It’s a two-part interview (9:25 and 5:38) here.
And see her book, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Ethics and the Beginning of Human Life, from Matthias Media.
Governed by Addiction
“Even in a fallen world there is great joy in living. God has created a wonderful world in which his pleasures seem prodigal in their distribution. At every turn there are more things to enjoy. While sin mars and distorts our joys, it does not seem to overcome them.
Amongst the pleasures of this world are eating and drinking. …”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen writes about alcohol in this week’s column.
John Shelby Spong on the Gospel of John — the same old
“[John Shelby] Spong claims … that The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic is the result of an ‘intensive five-year-long study’ of the Gospel of John and of Johannine scholarship. ‘I have now read almost every recognized major commentary on John’s gospel that is available in English from the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries’ (Fourth Gospel, 8). Unfortunately, it doesn’t show …”
– Rob Bowman at Reclaiming the Mind reviews Jack Spong’s latest offering.
Related: See this lecture by Peter Williams on “New Evidences the Gospels were Based on Eyewitness Accounts” (Lanier Theological Library.)
Christian Voices in the Public Square
The next Moore College Centre for Christian Living open night is at St. Barnabas’ Broadway on Wednesday 26th June.
Archbishop Peter Jensen is speaking on ‘Christian Voices in the Public Square’.
Bookings essential. Website & booking here. Flyer here.
Student Reading for the Summer
“I am still convinced that one of the major weaknesses in modern preaching is our failure to have a theology of preaching. That is why so many sermons can end up as either lectures or conversations or stand-up routines.”
– In mentioning books he recommends for students, Carl Trueman gives a plug for Speaking God’s Words by Peter Adam.
Choosing a Minister
Phillip Jensen and Kel Richards speak about Choosing a Minister – in ‘The Chat Room’. Plenty of good advice.
Satisfied only with utter Destruction
“Satan always aims for the utmost. He always aims at the furthest possible extent of any sin. He is willing to claim small victories on the slow march to his final goal. … If this is true, and I believe it is, Satan’s plan is not to redefine marriage but to destroy it. He hates marriage because he hates God and marriage is a godly thing.”
– Tim Challies sees Satan’s agenda in the redefinition of marriage.
St. Helen’s training videos: Mark Tookit parts 3 and 4
In the two latest St. Helen’s Training videos, Andrew Sach is in the kitchen to cook up a clearer understanding of the structure of Mark’s Gospel.
A terrific resource.
The power of stories
Mark Gilbert explains his new book, Stepping out in Faith, to Sam Freeney:
“For me it was hard to imagine that I and my bunch of evangelical friends could be right and the massively impressive Catholic church could be wrong. No-one in my life experience had ever done what I was thinking about doing — a book like this would have been very helpful for me.”
Read Mark’s interview about this very helpful book – at The Briefing.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…