A Church that sues itself?
“The highly litigious Episcopal Church in the United States of America (“ECUSA”) has settled a lawsuit with itself, according to a press release from its rump group (which cannot legally be called a “diocese”) in South Carolina.
Shall we run that one by our eyes again? ECUSA has settled a lawsuit which it brought against itself…”
– AS Haley (The Anglican Curmudgeon) looks at the latest legal twists and turns in The Episcopal Church.
Saying yes and no: a Briefing farewell
“I’m an avid reader, and social media brings an endless flood of articles my way—often very interesting, sometimes useful, occasionally mind-changing! So with that flood it’s hard to be sure, but I think the article that’s had the single biggest impact on my life and ministry was not published in The Briefing magazine. But that article by Ben Patterson explains why The Briefing has had more influence in shaping my Christian mind (and hopefully practice) than any book has ever done — apart from the Bible!…”
– Sandy Grant looks back with gratitude to some of the things he has learned through The Briefing.
Homosexuals in the Church: Keep Reading in Ephesians
“The progressive wing of evangelicalism seems to be ramping up its demand that Bible-believing churches accept homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle. An example is a recent video…”
– Rick Phillips, Senior Minister at Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, South Carolina, writes to help Christians respond in a loving and Biblical way.
Halloween and the Dark Side — What should Christians think?
“The coming of Halloween is a good time for Christians to remember that evil spirits are real and that the Devil will seize every opportunity to trumpet his own celebrity…”
– Albert Mohler asks how Christians should respond to Halloween.
Are there Three Ways to Live?
“There are only two ways to live: one leads to death, the other to eternal life.
However, Christians share with non-Christians a great desire to find a third way…”
– Phillip Jensen writes in his weekly column for the Cathedral.
Who or what defines the Anglican Communion?
“In an interview with the editor of the Church Of Ireland Gazette (Canon Ian Ellis), the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, has given his opinion on what defines a church as part of the Anglican Communion, and therefore, by implication, what is critical for Anglican identity…”
– SydneyAnglicans.net published this piece by Moore College Principal mark Thompson shortly before Synod. Take the time to read it all.
Sermons are ‘fair game’ in Houston
“When news broke earlier this week that the attorneys working for the City of Houston had issued subpoenas to pastors for sermons, I was fairly certain that some mistake had been made. When the actual text of the subpoena came to me, I could hardly believe my eyes.
Here was a legal demand, sent to Christian pastors in the name of one of America’s largest cities, to surrender ‘all speeches, presentations, or sermons related to HERO (an anti-discrimination ordinance), the Petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession.’
That subpoena is nothing less than ruthless thuggery …”
– Albert Mohler looks at the real warning in the big story out of Houston.
Also Bishop David Anderson, of the American Anglican Council, comments.
The View from The Top
“In an age of tolerance poisoned by relativism, inclusive multi-culturalism, and cultural sovereignty which is still coping with the guilt of colonialism, any exclusive claim to truth, salvation or God has to be challenged.
Yet, Jesus said ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6). And the Apostle Peter said ‘there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12). So it has been consistent Christian teaching down the centuries that we have no assurance of salvation for anybody other than those who name Jesus as their Lord, just as we have every assurance for those who do…”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen writes in his weekly column.
Does God really want you to be rich?
“We’ve all heard the phrase ‘worshipping the almighty dollar’. But there are some people who take the phrase literally. To them, the almighty, as in God, is the key to wealth and riches. Serve him well and material wealth will be the reward.
This philosophy is the cornerstone of an American movement called ‘prosperity theology’, and one man who preaches its message to his Australian flock is Hillsong Church leader Brian Houston…”
– in The Australian, Anthony Sharwood links to an excellent video by John Piper (pictured). You may have seen it before – watch it again.
A sad milestone for marriage and morality
“As of last week, 19 states and the District of Columbia had legalized same-sex marriage by one means or another. The Court’s decision not to take one of the cases from the lower Federal courts means that every one of them stands. Therefore, not only will same-sex marriage be legal in the states that made a direct appeal, but in every state included within the same U.S. Circuit.
That result is that the decision made clear by the Court will lead, automatically, to the fact that 30 states will have legal same-sex marriage within weeks, if not days. The news from the Court means that the vast majority of Americans will live where same-sex marriage is legal, and three fifths of the states will have legalized same-sex marriage…”
– Albert Mohler looks at the implications of the US Supreme Court’s decision to turn down appeals from several states on the issue of same-sex marriage.
And more from The Anglican Curmudgeon.
“So by refusing to exercise its powers of review, the Court has in effect given a green light to same-sex marriage in as many as thirty States, with more sure to follow.”
Faith on Earth — The urgent mission of Theological Education
“At the theological seminary the twig is bent, the trajectory is set, the minister is moulded, the preacher is formed, and the missionary is equipped.
The theological seminary is Ground Zero of the church’s future, and not just on its campus but everywhere its graduates will take their message, ministry, and influence…”
– Albert Mohler spoke at the inauguration of Ligon Duncan as Chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi.
Muslims need truth and love
“This is no time for circling the wagons and cowering behind them in fear”, writes Mark Durie at the Bible Society’s website.
The Unravelling of the Anglican Communion
“From 2003 to 2013 — it took just ten years for ECUSA and the Anglican Church of Canada to unravel the Anglican Communion…”
– A. S. Haley at The Anglican Curmudgeon, provides a quick overview of the last ten years.
Related: The Anglican Debacle: Roots and Patterns – by Dr Mark Thompson, March 2008.
Homosexuality as Dividing Line — The Inescapable Issue
“The vote to declare that the New Heart Community Church of La Mirada, California ‘does not presently meet the definition of a cooperating church’ came unanimously as the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention met this week in Nashville. It was a solemn moment and a moment perhaps to be repeated any number of times in coming months and years. Homosexuality was the dividing line…”
– Albert Mohler reflects on the issue which has torn the Anglican Communion, and is now doing the same in his own denomination.
The worst media Christian bashing this year?
“There’s probably no point waiting to the end of the year to award the prize for the worst media monstering of a Christian for 2014. Because the Sydney Morning Herald has published such an egregious story on Dean Phillip Jensen… that any other winning entry is unlikely.”
– Phillip Jensen has been criticised by the media before, and John Sandeman catalogues yet another example.
See also the article in question – The truth behind ISIL – by the Dean.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…