The 2019 Federal Election and Religious Freedom issues
Freedom for Faith Executive Director Michael Kellahan writes,
“The long awaited election has been called for 18 May. …
All the parties voice a commitment to religious freedom. What we need to know though is how this stated commitment will find expression at law. We have written to the parties asking a series of specific questions which will help you understand their positions heading into the election. We will publish a table of their responses.”
This article from Freedom for Faith board member Professor Patrick Parkinson discusses the key religious freedom issues. “Religious Freedom after Ruddock”:
“With the federal election campaign just around the corner, it would be understandable if people of faith were confused about the stance the major political parties take on religious issues, particularly given the differing responses of these parties to the Ruddock Report on religious freedom, which was completed in May 2018.”
Religious Free Speech after Ruddock
Neil Foster at Law and Religion Australia writes:
“I am presenting a paper at the ‘Religious Freedom After Ruddock’ conference being held at the University of Queensland on Saturday April 6.
The paper is “‘Religious Free Speech After Ruddock: Implications for Blasphemy and Religious Vilification Laws’.”
In defence of Lent
“It was Ash Wednesday when I first preached at our church’s Wednesday service. And truth be told, I’d never given Lent much thought before.
So what were my options? Should I ignore it? Call them all popish fiends? Or should I try to articulate a Reformed, Anglican understanding of the season?
Well, I aimed to do the latter, and here is how I tried. …”
– ACL Council member Dan McKinlay writes at The Australian Church Record.
(Image from the 1552 Prayer Book.)
30 Days of Prayer 2019
The 2019 Australian edition of the 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World booklet is now available for order from OM Australia.
“Ramadan [May 6 – June 4, 2019], a key month of religious observation on the Islamic calendar, gives us, the Body of Christ, a prayer focus for compassion, understanding and respect for our Muslim neighbours, in the hope that they will be touched by God.
30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World booklet is a great practical guide to help Christians engage. The booklet is a collection of articles, photos and prayer points from around the world. It will help you pray for Muslim families and learn more about them as you pray.”
– Details here.
The Apostles’ Creed: Discovering Authentic Christianity in an Age of Counterfeits
“It began as an assignment. It ended as a milestone in my Christian life. My church history professor assigned the class to memorize the Apostles’ Creed. Obediently, I began to memorize this historic affirmation of the Christian faith word by word, phrase by phrase, truth by truth. Within a few hours I had committed the Apostles’ Creed to memory, ready when called upon in class to recite it. But even at that time I knew that something else had happened. …
It was the most important class assignment I ever had. …”
– Albert Mohler has shared this excerpt from his about-to-be-published book, The Apostles’ Creed: Discovering Authentic Christianity in an Age of Counterfeits.
Mark Dever at Nexus 2019 — Let’s Do Evangelism Better — watch
Mark Dever spoke at today’s Nexus 2019 Conference. The vitally important theme was “Let’s Do Evangelism Better”.
You can watch the whole thing at this link. Mark’s session began at around 59 minutes into the video.
His second session begins at 6h 44m, and there is plenty to watch in between.
The entire conference was challenging, encouraging and helpful. Do take the time to watch.
Captivated by Scripture: A personal reflection on D. W. B. Robinson’s legacy for biblical studies
Dr Lionel Windsor has shared the paper he gave at at the legacy day and launch of Donald Robinson Selected Works Volume 3: Biblical and Liturgical Studies & Volume 4: Historical Studies and Series Index at Moore Theological College, today, 16 March 2019.
“What made Robinson such an inspiring and influential teacher for generations of students? I’m sure there were multiple factors: many of those here today will have their own insights into this question. But one factor that I want to focus on this morning – a factor that comes through particularly clearly in his writings – is Robinson’s commitment to being captivated by Scripture.
The impression that keeps coming through in these volumes is that Robinson was so confident in the divine inspiration of Scripture, and so assured that God’s purposes are revealed to us in Scripture, that he was prepared to follow Scripture wherever it led him.
And when Scripture led Robinson on strange paths, paths that others had barely trod, on journeys where even he could not discern the destination, he enthusiastically trod those paths, knowing that wherever Scripture was leading him, it must be important. In this way, Robinson’s approach to Scripture is faithful in a deep sense: full of faith in God’s purposes revealed to us in his inscripturated word.”
– Read it all at Forget the Channel.
Prayer following the act of Terrorism in Christchurch
The Rev. Mark Charleston has written a prayer you may wish to use – in your own prayers, or in church.
We’re grateful to Mark for sharing it.
A Christian Code of Ethics for Using Social Media
“The following is a simple code of ethics (5 Questions) for the follower of Jesus to consider before one clicks the ‘enter’ button.
It is intended for the follower of Jesus to remember that even in cyber-space we are witnesses (either for good or for bad) for Jesus Christ modelling a life which is supposed to emulate him. …”
– Archbishop Foley Beach shares five questions to ask yourself.
Help for Responding to Sexual Abuse in Church Settings
Dr. Peter Adam writes,
“There are few more painful, complicated, difficult, demanding, divisive and stressful issues to deal with than sexual abuse in your church.
If you are already dealing with it, you will find this extended essay very helpful.
If you are not yet dealing with it, you need to read it, so that you are more alert to the signs of its presence, aware of the issues, and be prepared to deal with it.
The author, a good friend of mine, has had extensive experience counselling victims of sexual abuse, and helping church leaders to respond to sexual abuse in their churches. She prefers to remain anonymous, for good reasons. I encouraged her to write this essay, so more people could learn from her hard-won wisdom…
The essay is not an easy read, but is highly recommended. I wish I had read it 50 years ago!”
– Do take the time to read the full post from Dr. Adam, and then download the resource from the Gospel Coalition Australia.
Donald Robinson’s Selected Works Book Launch
Coming up at Moore College on Saturday 16th March 2019.
Details and RSVP at the College website.
(Please RSVP for catering purposes by Friday 8th March.)
NEXUS19 on Monday March 25
Don’t forget the coming NEXUS19 Conference coming up later this month.
Mark Dever is among the speakers.
Take Heart!
“You should read this book!
Matt Chandler writes clearly and honestly about the society we live in – from the challenges it presents us to the hope the gospel holds for those who live in it. …”
– At Church Society’s blog, Philip Hobbs introduces Matt Chandler’s book ‘Take Heart!’.
Practical tips for sharing the gospel with a stranger
“How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?… Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Rom 10:14, 17)
How often do we consider the urgency of Paul’s words here? In 2017 McCrindle Research did a nation-wide study of faith and belief in Australia. It found that at least 1.5 million people don’t know a Christian. In fact, 1 in 29 people have never heard of Jesus. But the survey also found that 10 percent of Australians – that’s 2.4 million people – are interested in having a conversation about Jesus.
I once had no Christian friends or family, and I first heard the gospel from a stranger…”
– ACL Council member Mike Taylor shares encouragement and a challenge. At the Australian Church Record.
More on Ephesians
ACL Council member, Dr Lionel Windsor, is continuing to post insightful and encouraging reflections on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.
See them at Forget the Channel. (Scroll down to Recent blog posts.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…