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?”
Andrew Thorburn Statement re. Essendon Football Club CEO
“Yesterday was one of the proudest days of my life. To be offered the role of CEO of the Essendon Football Club – who I have followed since I was a boy – was a profound honour. …
However, today it became clear to me that my personal Christian faith is not tolerated or permitted in the public square, at least by some and perhaps by many. I was being required to compromise beyond a level that my conscience allowed. …
Despite my own leadership record, within hours of my appointment being announced, the media and leaders of our community had spoken. They made it clear that my Christian faith and my association with a Church are unacceptable in our culture if you wish to hold a leadership position in society.”
– Andrew Thorburn, CEO of Essendon for a day, has released this statement.
Related:
New Essendon CEO Andrew Thorburn steps down – ABC News.
“The new chief executive of the Essendon Football Club, Andrew Thorburn, has resigned just one day after being appointed to the role.
Mr Thorburn’s resignation comes after it emerged the church he leads has published a series of articles critical of homosexuality and abortion. …
Mr Thorburn is chair of the City on a Hill church…”
Conversations: Featuring Douglas Murray, Author and Journalist – John Anderson.
Pivoting to Surrender: A Warning for All Christians – Albert Mohler, 4th March 2021.
“Every Christian and every Christian ministry will come to a reckoning – we must all decide here and now where we stand.
Will we pivot or will we hold fast to faithfulness and the hope of the gospel?”
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:
John MacArthur to the Governor of California on the slaughter of the innocents
“Sir,
Almighty God says in His Word, ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people’ (Proverbs 14:34). Scripture also teaches that it is the chief duty of any civic leader to reward those who do well and to punish evildoers (Romans 13:1–7). You have not only failed in that responsibility; you routinely turn it on its head, rewarding evildoers and punishing the righteous.
The Word of God pronounces judgment on those who call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20)…”
– John MacArthur, Pastor of Grace Community Church in California, has released an open letter to Governor Gavin Newsom who has been promoting his state as a destination for those wanting abortions – and quoting the Bible in support. (Click the image to read the text on the billboard.)
The letter is a clear and blunt call to repentance. PDF version.
Related:
Can California Become Even More Pro-Abortion? Governor Newsom Signs 13 New Bills to Increase Access to Abortion – Albert Mohler’s The Briefing, 28 September 2022.
From silence to complexification to capitulation
“I don’t often agree with David Gushee, the liberal Christian ethicist whose ‘battles,’ by his own description, have included ‘issues like climate change, torture, LGBTQ inclusion, and white supremacism.’ But he spoke the uncomfortable truth when he observed years ago that when it comes to LGBTQ issues, there is no middle ground: ‘Neutrality is not an option. Neither is polite half-acceptance. Nor is avoiding the subject. Hide as you might, the issue will come and find you.’…”
– Kevin DeYoung explains why evangelical surrender on LGBTQ is almost never a surprise.
See also:
Pivoting to Surrender: A Warning for All Christians – Albert Mohler, March 2021.
Image: St Helen’s Bishopsgate.
Freedom22 National Conference videos available
Executive Director of Freedom for Faith, Rohan McHugh, writes,
“For those of you who were unable to attend our Freedom22 National Conference, there are several videos below of the speakers on the day, including Dr. Sarah Irving-Stonebraker, Stephen McAlpine, Mark Sneddon and Mark Spencer.
I would encourage you to take the time to watch them, as they provide helpful context for why religious freedom is at a crisis point in Australia.”
– Watch them at Freedom for Faith’s Youtube channel.
And visit the Freedom for Faith website to learn more.
Assembly of Confessing Congregations — UCA situation is ‘untenable’
The Assembly of Confessing Congregations National Assembly has been meeting on the Gold Coast this weekend. Chief among their discussions was their position within the Uniting Church when that organisation’s Assembly holds to two contradictory doctrines on marriage.
This statement has been posted today on the Assembly of Confessing Congregations Facebook page:
“The ACC National Council has come to the conclusion that the situation we are in is ‘untenable’. We cannot continue to live within the illusion of so called ‘two integrities’. The position of the UCA Assembly on the one hand, and that held by orthodox Christian members, congregations, networks and Presbyteries on the other, represent two contradictory and mutually exclusive understandings of truth, salvation, and therefore also of mission. This situation raises an essential impossibility of pursuing a common mission between these two respective positions.
This weekend, the ACC National Assembly has now put in place a mechanism of action towards navigating its way to a process of a collection of action items to be decided in an upcoming decision in March 2023.”
– Source of the text and photo.
Earlier:
A message to Uniting Church members about the decision on marriage from Uniting Church President Dr Deidre Palmer – 20 July 2018.
How a humble Western Sydney Pastor got Canberra’s attention on Religious Freedom
“Sydney Anglican Minister Mark Tough does not see himself as a political animal.
And yet, in 2019 he organised a 500-person rally in Western Sydney that discussed the issue of religious freedom. He was then invited to speak to then Shadow Attorney-General (now Attorney-General) Mark Dreyfus about his concerns.
I caught up with Mark a little while ago to hear how he did this, and to encourage more Pastors to become engaged about these sorts of issues …”
– A story of encouragement from Akos Balogh.
(Photo: As well as blogging, Akos serves as External Engagement Manager at Moore College.)
The Making Of The Western Mind — John Anderson speaks with Tom Holland
“John joins Tom Holland in his London home to discuss Christianity’s role in shaping Western civilisation.
Holland prompts us to reflect on the intricate moral web our society still upholds today and consider the intertwined history of the Western imagination and Christianity.”
Related:
Review: War on the West, by Douglas Murray – at John Anderson.net.au
Assisted suicide is spiralling out of control in Canada
“Canada is widely seen as one of the world’s most progressive nations in the world, ‘leading the way’ (depending on where you stand) on a variety of social issues. But in recent months, Canada has been garnering some less than savoury international attention because of the dark side of one of its recent progressive accomplishments …
3.3 per cent of all deaths in Canada in 2021 were assisted deaths. This has matched and surpassed the rates in places like Belgium and the Netherlands, despite it being available in Canada for less than a decade.”
– The National Post (Canada).
Link via Challies.com. Image via St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.
“Legal fight over same-sex faith as blokes not welcome in Anglican Church for getting married”
“A recently married, churchgoing couple living contentedly in the mountains of northern NSW are at the heart of an issue that is currently tearing apart the Anglican Church in Australia. They’re a loving couple who happen to be blokes. …
early next month, at a hearing before the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, the bishop and the two Peters will attend a compulsory mediation.”
– The Australian’s Weekend Magazine has another story on the same-sex marriage challenge in the Diocese of Armidale. (Subscription.) A matter for prayer.
An earlier opinion:
The Final Stone – David Robertson writes at AP (Australian Presbyterian), 15 October 2021.
GAFCON leading the way
“A game of AFL is taking place on a local oval when a small group jump the fence and start kicking a round ball along the ground. The game stops. Players approach the group and ask them to desist.
They retort, ‘we’re also playing football’.
The players answer, ‘no, you’re playing a different game. Different ball, different shaped ground, different goals….if you’re interested, you can join us but first of all, get rid of the soccer ball’.
The group insist, ‘no, we are playing football. We can all play together at the same time.’ …
A significant announcement was made this week, one which may change the Church landscape in Australia. The decision is not so much about changing the game but is confirming that we will not change the game. GAFCON is responding to what is a tireless intrusion onto Christian Churches by certain bishops and leaders who are trying to change the Gospel beyond recognition. They are not playing the same game as Christians Churches, but something quite different.”
– Murray Campbell looks at why it was necessary to form the Diocese of the Southern Cross.
A new Anglican diocese, bishop and church in Australia
“The first congregation of the new Diocese of the Southern Cross started at Beenleigh in Brisbane last Sunday and the Diocese’s first bishop Glenn Davies will be appointed on Thursday. …”
– The very latest news – from The Pastor’s Heart.
Related:
An open letter to the Archbishop of Brisbane – 11 July 2022.
Dr Robert Tong on the Appellate Tribunal Opinion – 12 November 2020.
Many posts relating to General Synod 2022.
The Line in the Sand: The Appellate Tribunal Opinion and the Future of the Anglican Church in Australia – Joint publication of The Australian Church record and The Anglican Church League.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…