When society and faith collide
Rick Lewers encourages Christians to be faithful:
“Standing firm might cost you your job but you will keep your eternal life. Standing firm took Jesus to the cross but it ended in resurrection.”
“Who could have imagined that football would clarify where Christianity sits in this country.
One day Andrew Thorburn, one time CEO of the NAB, was appointed the CEO of the Essendon AFL Club. The next day he was forced to resign because he attends and is on the board of a church that believes abortion and any sex outside marriage is sin.
Just normal orthodox thinking in any of the Abrahamic religions, ie, Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
Clearly religious discrimination is not irrelevant and these events only heighten the importance of a return to ‘Freedom of Religion’ legislation.
What a clarifier for all Christians. …”
– Rick Lewers, former Bishop of Armidale, and now ministering in the Shoalhaven, has written this helpful piece at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Hezekiah, the early church, and learning how to live in the State of Victoria
“The story surrounding the new and now former Essendon football club CEO, Andrew Thorburn, has entered the fourth day. The saga continues to dominate the news with a collation of new articles and opinion pieces in the newspapers and with interviews on radio and TV. …
As all of this is going on, I’m reading through the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles. I was struck by some key moments in this Bible reading, including how ‘right now’ the story feels. Let me share with you 2 encouragements and a warning.”
– Murray Campbell in Melbourne sees much encouragement in Scripture.
What will it profit a man to retain his job but forfeit his soul?
“How long will it be before they come for your job?
How long will it be before they come for your your church?
These questions have come very much to the fore with headline news coming to us from the nation of Australia.”
– Albert Mohler in the US weighs in on Essendon – in his The Briefing for 05 October 2022.
See also:
Your soul or your job? You choose – Albert Mohler writing in World Opinions.
Football CEO dismissed for religious beliefs
“The recently appointed new CEO of the Essendon Football Club in Victoria, Andrew Thorburn, has been pushed out of his job on account of views expressed by the church he belongs to and on whose board of management he sits.
Those views, which even the club itself accepts were not stated personally by Mr Thorburn and which had to be found by scouring a database of sermons back to 2013, represent views on moral issues that have been shared by Christians, Muslims, Jews and many other religious believers for a long time. They are not “radical” or “hateful” or “bigoted”.
It is arguable that the Club has breached Victorian anti-discrimination law. …”
– Associate Professor Neil Foster writes about the latest controversy – at Law and Religion Australia.
See also:
Well They Got Their Man: And It Only Took One Day – Stephen McAlpine.
“There is no amount of winsomeness that you can exhibit. You will be labelled the equivalent of a smiling racist if you even hint that you attend a church that holds to an orthodox position on sexuality.”
Christian Football CEO Forced to Resign from Essendon – Murray Campbell.
“It doesn’t require any imagination to realise more pressure will be heaped on Christians, bullying us into silence or into giving up precious God given truths for the sake of keeping our jobs. Are we ready to make that choice between God and employment?
That’s why we need to settle in our hearts and be convinced with our minds, the question of whom we will worship. Will we choose God and worship him or will we choose Baal?”
‘Jesus Has Left the Building’: Scotland’s Secular Slide — and Signs of Hope
“The Church of Scotland had it all — good theological heritage, good attendance, and good buildings. It also had the strong support — yet not the interference — of the government. …
Not long after, Scottish Christianity collapsed. In 60 years, the Church of Scotland plummeted from 1.3 million to 300,000 members. Meanwhile, the proportion of Scots who claim no religion has risen to nearly 60 percent.
Aberdeen is now the most secular city in Scotland, which is the most secular country in the United Kingdom. Her massive granite church buildings are restaurants and apartments and bars with names like Soul. A few years ago, a photographer documenting the shift called it ‘Jesus Has Left the Building.’ …
On Queen Street in downtown Aberdeen, near the police station, the city council offices, and the local newspaper, sits one of the largest church buildings in the city. Four years ago, it was sold — not to a nightclub or a retail store, but to a gospel-centered congregation.”
– At The Gospel Coalition, read this sobering, yet encouraging, account of what is happening in Scotland.
Also hear this interview with Sinclair Ferguson who has returned to Aberdeen.
Blasphemy on a Billboard: Governor of California manages to reach a new Low
Is his The Briefing for Monday 3rd October 2022, Albert Mohler looks at the billboards sponsored by the Governor of California.
Related:
‘Don’t be selfish. That’s the secret to being a husband’ — Al Stewart on The Pastor’s Heart
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“Marriage is a great opportunity for selfishness. But Al [Stewart] challenges husbands and fathers to use power for the good of others, especially our wives and children.”
The past, present and future — Southern Cross October-November 2022
From Russell Powell at Anglican Media Sydney:
“Southern Cross should be in your churches by this weekend [or next], seeking to encourage Sydney Anglicans about the past, present, and future.
The past is the great impact of John Chapman, through a new book on his ministry and influence from Dr Baden Stace.
The present includes stories on what happened at Synod and the new Album by Sydney’s own City Alight, with great new music for our churches.
The future is the new ministry areas in the Greenfields (as well as the changing face of Brownfields).”
You can download your PDF copy now at magazine.sydneyanglicans.net.
Cranmer’s Collect, the Christian voice of hope
“During the Queen’s funeral in Westminster Abbey, the words of Thomas Cranmer, burnt at the stake in 1556 for his evangelical Christian beliefs, were heard by more people on a single occasion than at any other time in history.
As Archbishop of Canterbury, Cranmer was the author and compiler of the Book of Common Prayer, commanded for use in public worship in England’s parishes in 1552 during the reign of King Edward VI.
Cranmer’s liturgical book, with minor changes, was reintroduced in 1662 for public worship in the Church of England after the restoration of the Monarchy under King Charles II, hence it is now known as the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (BCP). …”
– Julian Mann reminds us of where that prayer came from! and what it means.
Healing Australia’s gambling disease
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“Australia has the world’s worst rate of gambling losses per capita, being home to less than half a percent of the world’s population but with 20 percent of its pokies.
And Sydney and NSW are worst of all, with about double (or worse) the rate of poker machine losses compared to every other Australian state and territory.
About 40% of all pokies losses come from problem gamblers.
Anglican Dean of Sydney Sandy Grant and Wesley Mission’s Stuart Cameron are asking both sides of politics to come together to address the crisis.”
Photo:
Stu Cameron and Sandy Grant – with thanks to SydneyAnglicans.net where you can read this article on the topic.
SydneyAnglicans.net also has a copy of the letter sent to Dominic Perrottet, MP, Premier of NSW and The Hon. Chris Minns, MP, Leader of the Opposition. (PDF)
Raising Your Family In The Bible
“I remember that when we had our first child, having a Christian home was what I really wanted. My parents sent me to Sunday School but they never went themselves so what to do was all new to me. But where do you start and how do you start?…”
– At Equal But Different, Christine Jensen has some encouragement for Christian parents.
Luther’s monumental achievement
“500 years ago today, on 21 September 1522, one of the landmark moments of the Protestant Reformation took place, one that is not often celebrated as much as the posting of the 95 theses, Luther’s stand at the Diet of Worms in April 1521, or the formal ‘Protest’ submitted to the Diet of Speyer in April 1529.
On that day the first copies of Martin Luther’s German translation of the New Testament emerged from Melchior Lotther the Younger’s print shop in Wittenberg. …”
– Moore College Principal Dr Mark Thompson draws attention to a significant anniversary.
St. John’s Parramatta Service for Thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth II
From St. John’s Cathedral, Parramatta:
“Join us in the Cathedral on Thursday 22 September, 11am, for a thanksgiving service, remembering the life of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The service will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.”
Deconstructing the Queen’s Funeral — The Pastor’s Heart
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“What can we learn about funerals today from the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, which was watched by around four billion people across the world yesterday.
What worked and didn’t work with the Queen’s funeral? Is there anything our guests would have done differently?
David Peterson is the former Principal of Oak Hill Theological College in London and is now lecturing as an adjunct faculty member at Sydney’s Moore Theological College.
Rachel Ciano lecturers in Christian History at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.
Chris Braga is Senior Pastor of Grace West Anglican Church at Glenmore Park in Sydney’s West.”
Related:
The Queen’s Funeral Sermon: some early thoughts – Andrew Roycroft (via Tim Challies)
The Meaning of Funerals and the Making of History: The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and History on Both Sides of the Atlantic – Albert Mohler, The Briefing, 20 September 2022.
Halloween resource from Matthias Media
Do you have lots of families in your street going door-to-door at Halloween?
This new tract from Matthias Media might be something you could use!
“It’s Halloween! is a very short tract written in language a child can both understand and delight in.
The tract engages them as they dress up for Halloween and explains the difference between dressing up and the actual horrible things that happen in the world.
With the explanation in place, the contrast is drawn between a mixed world going its own way and a world loved and cared for by God through his Son, Jesus. The tract links to the online version of Who Will Be King.
This leaflet is perfect to give out with lollies and treats to children over Halloween, either to trick or treaters door knocking or at a church event. It assumes no familiarity with Christianity or Jesus, and is suggested for children aged 6-12. ”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…