Church Society podcast: Interview with Bishop Rob Munro

From Church Society:

“Ros Clarke chats to the Bishop of Ebbsfleet, Rob Munro, about what his role requires and some of the challenges he has been facing. In an increasingly politicised church he speaks of how he tries to follow theological principles, and calls us to pray for revival.”

– Listen here.

Court finds Christian man guilty of ‘disapproval of abortion’ for praying silently

“A British army veteran who served in Afghanistan was found guilty today of praying silently near an abortion clinic in England.

Adam Smith-Connor breached a Public Spaces Protection Order by this action, according to the ruling at Poole Magistrates Court in the town of Poole near Bournemouth, Dorset, England. The court gave Smith-Connor a conditional discharge, meaning he will be sentenced only if convicted of future offenses within the next two years.

‘Today, the court has decided that certain thoughts — silent thoughts — can be illegal in the United Kingdom,’ Smith-Connor said after the court ruling. …”

– Story from The Christian Post.

Update: Here’s a video of Adam Smith-Connor responding to the verdict:

Where is our mission confidence?

“Last week, I enjoyed Xiao Long Bao with the family in a restaurant just behind Bourke Street in Melbourne City. On our way back to the car, we walked past two billboards casting their messages onto the famous Swanston and Flinders Street intersection.

The first billboard was hilarious; it advertised Melbourne’s Fringe Festival by emulating Paris’ Olympic Opening Ceremony with a Last Supper mock-up. Melbourne’s creatives apparently have the comedic and artistic flair of the inside of a vacuum: ‘Let stupidity repeat itself’! (no I’m not offended, except by the boorishness).

The second billboard stands outside St Paul’s Cathedral. This gothic lookalike sits on the busiest intersection in Melbourne’s CBD. It is a favourite spot for news reporters, city workers, protesters, and more. In every direction a tram is clicketing with passengers heading to the MCG or to theatre shows and the symphony.

With this kind of amazing frontage, which is probably unbeatable anywhere else in all of Melbourne, what message would you like to convey to the 100,000s people who pass by every day?…”

– Murray Campbell in Melbourne has some important observations for all churches.

Here’s another message, posted by private individuals, across from St. Paul’s Cathedral several years ago:

Archbishop to Decide as Perth Synod Weakens Faithfulness in Service

“The Synod of the Diocese of Perth met this last weekend amid ever-growing concern about the direction that the Diocese is heading under the leadership of Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy.

The matter which davidould.net has received most correspondence about is the proposed changes to Faithfulness in Service to effectively weaken moral requirements for church workers.

We’ll come to that in a moment but, perhaps to set the scene of what is happening in Perth, here is a fascinating set of answers to questions. All documentation for this article comes from photos provided by attendees at the synod since the Diocese of Perth no longer publishes any of their synod documentation online (including the Presidential Address). …”

– Do read the latest at davidould.net.

Photo: Diocese of Perth.

A Day of Infamy for Israel and the Civilised World

In his The Briefing broadcast for Monday 7th October 2024, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Dr. Albert Mohler comments on what the year since the attacks on Israel has revealed.

– Listen here.

Proposed Misinformation Disinformation Bill

It may be that you are unaware of the Australian Government’s Communication Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024.

Public comment on the bill (unless the time is extended) closes tonight.

From The Australian Christian Lobby:

“Where the government should be safeguarding the free speech of Australians, it will instead require social media to control our public discourse. From public health to politics to the economy and ideology,  how this bill defines harm will determine what you are allowed to say online.

Remember, this isn’t just about protecting our rights; this is about our ability to speak truth in love – unpopular but true messages that challenge what society has accepted, messages that reveal God’s goodness. Christians have many things to say about a range of issues, and when it comes from a place of grace and truth, it’s helpful for society. Our message are not, as the government would dictate, ‘harmful’ nor ‘leading to ‘serious harm’. …”

– Read their whole post and the accompanying PDF file.

Christian corporate governance, statements of faith, and upholding marriage

At The Australian Church Record, Dean of Sydney Sandy Grant writes:

“In September 2024, the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney will be asked to delete the personal Statement of Faith from its Corporate Governance Policy.

However, this personal Statement of Faith should continue to be signed by those elected or appointed to be Board Governors and Heads/CEOs of our Anglican organisations. It has been an integral part of the Corporate Governance Policy since 2014, when it was introduced as the culmination of 4 years’ research, discussion, review and debate. …”

– Read here.

AI as God, Deepfakes, and The Resurrection — John Anderson speaks with John Lennox

From JohnAnderson.net.au:

John Anderson “… speaks with Oxford Professor John Lennox about the intriguing connections between science, religion, and modern cultural shifts.

Lennox reflects on how figures like Jordan Peterson have opened the door for renewed dialogue between Christianity and science. He argues that historical scientific pioneers were driven by their faith in a divine lawgiver, a perspective that has regained traction in modern intellectual discussions.

The conversation also touches on the ethical challenges of artificial intelligence and society’s growing struggle with truth in the age of deepfakes. \

Lennox emphasises the unique hope Christianity offers through the resurrection of Jesus, contrasting it with secular movements like transhumanism, which promises immortality but fails to address deeper human questions.”

– The video on YouTube has timestamps for ease of navigation.

Repost: Call from the Presbyterian Moderator General to “Walk for Life”

“David Burke, the moderator general for the Presbyterian Church of Australia, has called on all people of Christian faith to defend the rights of the unborn by participating in ‘Walk for Life’.

Rev. Dr. Burke argued that there is a parallel with the abuse relating to domestic violence, vulnerable people such as children and people with disabilities as well as child abuse in all its forms. Burke said:

‘To my mind, one of the great unmentioned forms of child abuse is the fact that there is a capacity in Australia to kill a child still in its mother’s womb – a living human being with all its actuality and potential made in the image of God.’”

– See the video message from David Burke at AP, the Presbyterian Church’s national journal.

The Walk for Life to which he is referring is planned for September 21st 2024, 2:00pm – 4:00pm Hyde Park, Sydney. Tickets here.

From the ticketing website:

“Love Sydney exists to stand for truth and intercede for the preborn through gathering together with others who are in agreement with our mission.

As we walk, may our countenance and attitude of our faith be evident with all interactions with each other. We welcome everyone who wishes to stand for life with us in this respectful way, regardless of their faith, ethnicity, age or gender.

We ask that you not engage with anyone that is expressing their opposition to our peaceful Walk for Life event. Our trained marshals, professional security and police are all here to keep our event safe. Anyone making nuisance noise will be asked to leave.

Please remember no megaphones or signs. Our official signs will be available for you to carry while at this event. Please obey the marshals, security team and police on the walk.

Our role is simple – to stand in the gap and be a voice for the voiceless, as we cover Sydney in prayer and love.”

UK Government ban on Islamophobia would prevent gospel proclamation

“With the strong likelihood that the Labour government will outlaw Islamophobia, could Christians who deny that Islam is a saving faith fall foul of the law? Labour’s Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, also Communities Secretary, confirmed in the House of Commons on Monday September 2 that the government is actively considering a definition of Islamophobia. …”

– Julian Mann reports from the UK at Christian Today.

A Review of “The Widening of God’s Mercy: Sexuality within the Biblical Story” by Christopher B. Hays and Richard B. Hays

“Sometimes when people change their mind it is occasion for joy and celebration, for there is no virtue in adhering to past opinions for the sake of tradition or fear of criticism.

In this case, however, Richard Hays’s change of mind is a cause of grief and sadness instead of joy, especially for those like me who have learned so much from his outstanding scholarship over the years. …”

– At The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Thomas Schreiner reviews “The Widening of God’s Mercy: Sexuality within the Biblical Story”.

See also:

At The Gospel Coalition, Rebecca McLaughlin shares her review of the book:

“For decades, Christians seeking to uphold the Bible’s ‘no’ to same-sex sexual relationships have quoted Richard Hays’s treatment of this topic in his Moral Vision of the New Testament. But Hays (emeritus professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School) has coauthored a new book, The Widening of God’s Mercy: Sexuality Within the Biblical Story, arguing for ‘the full inclusion of LGBT+ people in Christian communities.’

Readers might expect to find that Hays has changed his mind about the meaning of the verses that apparently prohibit same-sex sex. But he hasn’t. Instead, he and his son, Christopher (an Old Testament professor at Fuller Theological Seminary), suggest God has changed his mind. …”

Positive Masculinity

“Friends in Christ, this month, Micaela Cronin, the country’s first Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner, handed down her first ‘report card’ to federal parliament on progress of the government’s National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children. …

Also highly significant in my view, Ms Cronin urged governments to help redefine masculinity and engage men effectively. She said, “we need to have eyes on men in different ways than we do now”. She said she was being told consistently by women to “please work with our men” and data uncovering how men become violent and stopped being violent was desperately needed. [Source]

It’s at this point I offer some Christian reflections.”

– The Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant, turns to Scripture to show us what a real man must be like.

Tickle v Giggle: Sex and Gender Identity

“In his decision in Tickle v Giggle for Girls Pty Ltd (No 2) [2024] FCA 960 (23 August 2024) Bromwich J in the Federal Court of Australia found that the company Giggle had been guilty of indirect gender identity discrimination when its director, Sall Grover (who was also sued), had removed Roxy Tickle from her women-only social media app. …”

– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster comments on a ruling “which raises concerns for religious folk, many of whom see sex as a biological category determined at conception and ordained by God”.

The Exultant Nature of Today’s Abortion Advocacy

“A Planned Parenthood mobile clinic has been offering free abortions just a few blocks from the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which concludes today.

The DNC is not officially involved, but that is a minor detail, given that abortion has the status of a creedal non-negotiable in the upper echelons of the Democratic Party. The clinic is simply actualizing the central plank of the Democrats’ election campaign. Its proximity to the convention is entirely appropriate …”

– At First Things, Carl Trueman speaks of the desecration of humanity.

Image: Carl Trueman at the Diocese of the Living Word missions conference in April 2024.

Tried for a Tweet

“I have been a member of the Finnish Parliament for twenty-nine years. During that time, I have witnessed a dramatic change in the value system undergirding our modern society. From the protection of life to the defense of marriage, the changes we are living through are undeniable, with far-reaching implications for us all. And it’s evident that the general atmosphere toward Christianity grows increasingly hostile every day.

Only ten years ago, I could not have imagined that I would soon be summoned to my country’s Supreme Court to defend my religious convictions. …”

– Päivi Räsänen shares the story of her persecution. (Link thanks to Anglican Mainstream.)

Earlier:

The Criminalization of Christianity in Finland – January 2022.

Finnish Christian MP to appear before Supreme Court over ‘hate crime’ Bible tweet – April 2024.

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