When ‘Evangelical’ Means Everything but the Gospel

“For the past 30 years, I’ve pushed back against the critics who’ve said Christians need to abandon the label ‘evangelical.’ I’ve argued that we shouldn’t let political associations or cultural baggage rob us of a word with such rich theological heritage. The term has deep biblical and historical roots that predate and transcend contemporary controversies.

But even I have to admit the label I love has become nearly meaningless in our current American context. …”

– This article by Joe Carter at The Gospel Coalition (USA) is a reminder that what is meant by ‘evangelical’ by many in the USA has very little in common with what J.I. Packer (for example) – and many Sydney Anglicans – would mean.

Among his conclusions,

“Church leaders can either continue to lament theological compromise or take steps to return to the historic Christian faith that actually deserves the name ‘evangelical.’ The choice will determine whether future generations inherit a robust, biblical faith or an empty shell of cultural Christianity that can tell you whom you should vote for but not how many persons are in the Trinity.”

The Theology of Charlie Kirk’s Funeral — Albert Mohler

In his The Briefing broadcast for Monday September 22 2025, Dr Albert Mohler covers aspects of the Charlie Kirk Memorial Service which may have been missed by the Australian media.

Whatever one’s political convictions may be, this is an important time for Christians to be aware of the impact on many (especially young) people of the death of Charlie Kirk, the message he preached, and of opportunities we have to share the message of hope and salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.

– Listen here.

Image: Albert Mohler.

The Growing Challenge to Religious Freedom — Professor Patrick Parkinson

From AP, the Australian Presbyterian –

“AP’s convener Mark Powell talks to Prof. Patrick Parkinson, former Dean of Law at the University of Qld, about the growing challenge to religious freedom in Australia and the West.

Prof. Parkinson talks about his new book Unshaken Allegiance (Matthias Media, 2025) and what this means for followers of Jesus today.”

– Watch or listen here. Most enlightening.

Related –

Posts on the experience of Bernard Randall in England.

The speech against assisted suicide that Lord Alton couldn’t deliver

“In July Lord Alton of Liverpool wrote in TCW of his strong determination to oppose the assisted suicide Bill when it reached the House of Lords.

The crossbench peer was unable to speak at Second Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill yesterday and the week before, however, because he is recovering from injuries suffered two weeks ago in a bus crash at Victoria Station, London.

Instead, Lord Alton filmed the speech he would have given. It constitutes a passionate plea to the Lords to protect the most vulnerable members of society by rejecting the Bill. …”

– Lord Alton’s 7 minute and 50 second speech is a good summary of many arguments against ‘assisted dying’. It’s embedded on this page at The Conservative Woman.

Of course, Christians are very much aware that there are even greater reasons for hope than articulated in the video. for example –

Hope for the Hopeless:

Hope for the Oppressed:

and Hope for the Dying:

Why Christianity Still Defines Us — John Anderson speaks with Greg Sheridan

On his latest video, John Anderson (former Australian Deputy Prime Minister) speaks with journalist Greg Sheridan.

“In this conversation, Greg Sheridan explores Christianity’s defining influence on Western civilisation, showing how its revolutionary impact – from the early Church through to modern times – has shaped culture, morality, and human dignity.”

– At johnanderson.net.au – or see it on YouTube to access the timestamps for the video.

“We will obey God”

From SydneyAnglicans.net –

“The Act purports to give churches, schools and parents permission to teach about sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual activity and religion. But, respectfully, we do not need the permission of the government to teach about such things,” said Archbishop Kanishka Raffel, drawing a line in the sand in his opening address to the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney.

“I want to state clearly and publicly to you all – that ‘I will stand by any clergyperson or church worker who finds themselves brought before a tribunal or court because of this poorly conceived law. We must not be silenced or intimidated from teaching God’s good plan for human sexuality and relationships. We will insist on the freedom to do so, respectfully but without fear.’ We will obey God”

The act being referred to was the NSW Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 which Premier Chris Minns promised would not restrict churches in prayer or preaching. That pledge has now been undercut by Anti-Discrimination New South Wales (ADNSW). …

– Russell Powell reports.

Kanishka Raffel and the Sydney Anglican Synod promise to stand with Christians over conversion practices laws

John Sandeman reports on Monday night’s gathering of the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney –

“Clergy, church workers, and any Christian taken before a tribunal when accused of breaching the Conversion Practices Ban Act in NSW have been assured by Archbishop Kanishka Raffel and the Sydney Anglican Synod that they will be supported. ‘I concluded by saying, and I want to say this clearly and publicly to you all, that I will stand by any clergy person or church worker who finds themselves brought before a tribunal or court because of this poorly conceived law,’ the Archbishop declared in his presidential address to the Synod, repeating an assurance he had sent to his clergy as the new law began to operate.

‘We must not be silenced’, he added. ‘We must not be silenced or intimidated from teaching God’s good plan for human sexuality and relationships. We will insist on the freedom to do so respectfully, but without fear, we will obey God. We can do nothing less.’ During the debate, Raffel made it clear his support extended to lay people caught up in tribunal hearings as well. …”

– Do read it all on this important issue.

Related:

Living Faith website.
“Living Faith is a Sydney Anglican ministry to Christian persons who experience attraction to the same sex and/or gender incongruence.”

Image: Archbishop Raffel during his Presidential Address.

England: Christians to launch new declaration calling on leaders to respect freedom of conscience

“Christians from different denominations and traditions will make a united stand for the faith in London on Saturday.

The cornerstone of the event will be the signing of the 2025 Westminster Declaration, a document calling on leaders in government, academia and wider society to respect human dignity and freedom of conscience. …”

– Report from Christian Today.

And in Australia – The FREEDOM25 Conference is on Saturday, 27 September 2025, at Village Church Annandale.

On September 11, Two Australians reflect on a sickening murder in the USA

Stephen McAlpine and Murray Campbell each reflect in their own way on the murder of well-known conservative activist and debater and professing Christian Charlie Kirk –

“Reading the commentary today feels as though a black veil has descended upon  America. Here in Australia, young people especially know the name Charlie Kirk. He was followed by millions, including many Gen X and millennials across Australia. …”

–  Charlie Kirk murdered. R U OK? – Murray Campbell.

“I am sitting here on September 11 in Sydney, on a pouring wet spring morning, trying to take it in.

Yes, September 11.

I remember sitting in our lounge in Perth late that night in 2001 while Jill was feeding our baby daughter watching in horror as the Twin Towers came down.

Back then, in the aftermath of those events, the West sincerely believed that the existential problem it had was coming from the outside. We had to ensure that we were better organised and that our borders were more secure.

Now waking up to the terrible news that Charlie Kirk has been shot and killed at a university reveals the ugly truth: the existential problem of the West has come from the inside. Our borders can be as secure as we like, the people that truly hate us come from within us. We have rotted from within. …”

– Charlie Kirk is dead. And I am Sad (Sad and Angry) – Stephen McAlpine.

See also:

A Day That Will Shape a Generation: The Murder of Charlie Kirk – Albert Mohler.

Where Is King Jesus When Violence Reigns? – Collin Hansen at The Gospel Coalition.

Thousands stand for the unborn at March for Life in London

“Thousands of people from across the UK came together to be a powerful voice for the unborn at the March for Life in London on Saturday.

Organisers estimate that at least 10,000 people turned out for March for Life UK 2025 on Saturday. …

This year’s March for Life was supported by a number of Christian leaders including Anglican and Catholic bishops, evangelist Glen Scrivener, Christian Concern CEO Andrea Williams …”

– Report from Christian Today. (Updated link.)

Image: March for Life UK.

Are You Willing to Walk for the Unborn?

“I often talk to people who question why it took the Christian church so long to abolish slavery. They then quickly add that if they had been alive back then, then they would have definitely stood up and said something.

But I often wonder whether they really would …”

– Mark Powell shares details of the next Love Sydney Walk for Life – at AP, the online Presbyterian journal.

Christian MP dragged back to court in Finland

“The consequences of one tweet posted seven years ago continue to reverberate for Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen, who is at the centre of an ongoing legal case for ‘hate speech’. …

The charges related to the tweet, to her comments in a radio debate, and to a church pamphlet published in 2004. The co-publisher of the pamphlet, Bishop Juhana Pohjola, was also charged. …

Both Räsänen and Pohjola were acquitted of all charges in 2022 and again in 2023. However the prosecutor has appealed yet again, taking the case to the Supreme Court, which is set to hear oral arguments on 30 October.”

– Report from Christian Today.

“Canada is Turning itself into a Death Cult”

In his The Briefing broadcast for Tuesday 19 August 2025, Dr Albert Mohler turns to the disturbing and sobering topic of medical killing (‘Medical Assistance in Dying’) in Canada.

After discussing hopes for an Ukraine – Russia peace agreement, he turns – at 07:25 – to what is happening in Canada. What worldview calls for this? How should Christians respond?

The Case for Pew Bibles

These days, how many of our churches use pew Bibles?

This article at Mere Orthodoxy makes a good argument for doing so –

“Is something lost when we depend on digital media for our Scripture consumption? Is projecting the Scripture passage onto the screen adequate for whole-person and whole-church discipleship and mission, or can a case be made that pew Bibles are an essential part of making God’s Word accessible for all?

…

Pew Bibles empower the people in the hearing and heeding of God’s Word since they place the revelation of God in their hands with no impediment and with the endorsement to see for themselves. As the pastor speaks the Word of God, the people may follow along; they are both physically and metaphorically on the same page.

The presence of pew Bibles is certainly not the only way to accomplish this, but a church that actively and intentionally places the Word of God before the people signals the leadership’s subservience to the Word.”

– Read it all here. (Link via challies.com.)

“Church of England’s treatment of Bernard Randall is evil”

“The Church of England’s treatment of former school chaplain, Rev Dr Bernard Randall, deserves to be described as evil.

The Christian Legal Centre is rightly calling for Dr Randall to be restored to ministry after statutory authorities found that he did not pose a safeguarding risk. …”

– Julian Mann writes at Christian Today.

Earlier posts.

Photo: Christian Concern.

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