Bible Gateway removes The Passion Translation

Posted on February 12, 2022 
Filed under News, Theology Comments Off on Bible Gateway removes The Passion Translation

“A Bible version designed to ‘recapture the emotion of God’s Word’ was removed from Bible Gateway last week. The Passion Translation (TPT) is listed as ‘no longer available’ among the site’s 90 English-language Bible offerings.

First released as a New Testament in 2017, The Passion Translation includes additions that do not appear in the source manuscripts, phrases meant to draw out God’s ‘tone’ and ’heart’ in each passage. …”

– Story from Christianity Today.

Related:

Burning Scripture with Passion: A Review of The Psalms (The Passion Translation) – Andrew Shead, April 2018.

“Brian Simmons has made a new translation of the Psalms (and now the whole New Testament) which aims to ‘re-introduce the passion and fire of the Bible to the English reader.’ He achieves this by abandoning all interest in textual accuracy, playing fast and loose with the original languages, and inserting so much new material into the text that it is at least 50% longer than the original.”

The Passion “Translation” of Romans: Problems and questions – Lionel Windsor, November 2017.

Dual Citizens podcast

Posted on February 11, 2022 
Filed under Culture wars, Opinion, Resources Comments Off on Dual Citizens podcast

David Ould has recently started a podcast which many will find of interest –

Dual Citizens is “a podcast analysing current affairs, informed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Covering various topics weekly, Dual Citizens explains how Christianity holds an important sense of relevancy in contemporary society, and how all Christians are ‘dual citizens’ belonging to two places; their country, and Jesus’ heavenly kingdom.”

Check it out here.

Religious Discrimination Bill stalled by hasty amendments — Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney Media Statement

Posted on February 10, 2022 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Religious Discrimination Bill stalled by hasty amendments — Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney Media Statement

Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney

Media Statement

Religious Discrimination Bill stalled by hasty amendments

We are deeply disappointed that the passage of the Religious Discrimination Bill has been stalled. People of faith have been waiting for this since 2018, and there seems to be broad agreement on both sides of the House that legal protection against discrimination on the basis of religious belief is necessary and long overdue.

It is regrettable that the passage of the Religious Discrimination Bill – which is about Religious Discrimination, and Religious Discrimination only – is being held hostage to rushed changes to the Sex Discrimination Act relating to students.

There have been claims that religious schools are harming trans and gay students and further claims that they want the legal right to do so. This is the opposite of what happens.  Religious schools provide exceptional pastoral care to all students (which is one of the reasons why parents choose to send their children to these schools).

Many MPs seem to have given scant regard to how to protect those of religious faith and the positive contribution of individuals, churches and religious organisations to the community. Instead, the central intent of the bill has been overshadowed and derailed by the discussion of the exemptions section of s38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Act.

As we have seen from hasty amendments made in the middle of last night, this issue is complex, which is why it was referred to the Australian Law Reform Commission to address. Nevertheless, if the removal of s.38(3) is the only means by which the Bill can progress, we call on the government and opposition to work together to resolve the technical issues and bring this matter to a resolution before the next Federal election.

People of religious faith in Australia, of all beliefs and backgrounds, deserve the equal protection that such a bill was intended to give. The benevolent religious organisations they have established and maintain also need the stability that well-considered legislation would provide. There is goodwill on our part to proceed and we call for a bipartisan approach that would progress this very important Bill.

Bishop Michael Stead, Chair, Religious Freedom Reference Group and Bishop of South Sydney 

February 10, 2022.

Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.

Government “shelves religious freedom bill indefinitely”

Posted on February 10, 2022 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Government “shelves religious freedom bill indefinitely”

From ABC News, 1:22pm:

“The government has indefinitely shelved its bid to overhaul religious freedom laws, leaving one of the Coalition’s central 2019 election commitments hanging in uncertainty.

After a marathon sitting of the House of Representatives, where laws passed early on Thursday, the government failed to bring the matter on for debate in the Senate.

Coalition sources have confirmed the government is all but guaranteed not to bring it back for debate when the Senate next sits in March.

That is because the government does not want further debate about religious freedoms to hijack its plans to sell a pre-election budget.”

– Source.

Update: The Australian Christian Lobby’s Martyn Iles gave his take on the events of the day in this video.

Religious Discrimination Bill passes lower house along with SDA amendment

Posted on February 10, 2022 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Religious Discrimination Bill passes lower house along with SDA amendment

“This morning Australia woke up to the news that at an all-night sitting which concluded around 5 am, the House of Representatives has passed the Religious Discrimination Bill 2022. (The link there will take you to official Parliamentary site for the Bill; as I write the updated version given a third reading has not been published but should be later in the day.) The government amendments which I noted in a previous post were apparently all accepted.

There was an amendment moved by the Opposition which came very close to being accepted, but which in the end did not pass. (It can be seen here in the Opposition amendments document.) It would have introduced a prohibition on “religious vilification”. I do not think Australia needs more such laws; in the time available now let me link a paper I produced a few years ago on the dangers of limiting free speech in this way.

However, the package of bills also includes the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2022, which saw an Opposition amendment accepted when 5 members of the government crossed the floor. …”

– In this post at Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster summarises the current position, and gives some examples of how the changes to the bill could play out in a faith-based school.

“Rushed amendment has gutted the Religious Discrimination Bill package”

Posted on February 10, 2022 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on “Rushed amendment has gutted the Religious Discrimination Bill package”

Here’s a media release from the Australian Christian Lobby:

“Rushed amendment has gutted the Religious Discrimination Bill package
10 February 2022

The Morrison Government should withdraw its Religious Discrimination Bills from the Senate after they have been completely undermined by the simultaneous voting down of section 38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Act in the House of Representatives overnight, according to the Australian Christian Lobby.

Australian Christian Lobby’s National Director of Politics said, “The bills were intended to help faith-based schools, but they now do more harm than good.

‘Labor, independents and Liberals, Bridget Archer, David Sharma, Trent Zimmerman, Katie Allen and Fiona Martin voted for an amendment to remove section 38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Act which contains vital protections for religious schools. These protections have enabled faith-based schools to teach their religion and conduct their schools according to their faith values. The loss of this protection would outweigh any benefits that could be obtained by the Religious Discrimination Bill.

‘The Australian Christian Lobby withdraws its support for the Religious Discrimination Bill package and calls on the Morrison Government to now withdraw the Bills from the Senate.

‘Taking away protections for Christian schools is a price too high to pay for the passage of the Religious Discrimination Bill. The amendments voted on by Labor, independents and these Liberal MPs unnecessarily interfere with the operation of faith-based schools.

‘With the amendments so damaging to religious freedom, the Government should immediately withdraw the bills’ Ms Francis said.

ENDS

– From The Australian Christian Lobby.

(Of course, the Australian Christian Lobby should not be confused with the Anglican Church League.)

God’s quiet and mysterious work

Posted on February 9, 2022 
Filed under Encouragement Comments Off on God’s quiet and mysterious work

“God moves in a mysterious way,/ His wonders to perform.

So begins one of the finest hymns in the English language. It was penned by one of the most depressed men who ever lived, William Cowper, who was friends with one of the most grateful men who ever lived, John Newton.

Down through the ages, God has chastened and warned His people with the four horsemen of sword, famine, wild beasts and plague. At times it may appear that they have all been let out at once, and our present age seems particularly disoriented and afflicted. …”

– Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, Dr Peter Barnes, shares some encouragement in the midst of difficult times.

Down Under Theology podcast

Posted on February 9, 2022 
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on Down Under Theology podcast

“Down Under Theology” is a relatively new podcast featuring two lecturers from Christ College at Burwood.

In Season 1 they explored the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Season 2 has just begun and sees them walking through each book of the Bible, “bringing out the big ideas, themes, and implications for the life and mission of the church”.

Worth checking out. Listen here.

The power of forgiveness

Posted on February 9, 2022 
Filed under Good News Comments Off on The power of forgiveness

“Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has thanked the Abdallah family for activating a community conversation about forgiveness, on the second i4Give day.

A service at The King’s School chapel was packed on Sunday, February 6, as members of the school communities of King’s and Tara, local residents and dignitaries, including the Prime Minister and Premier, joined the Abdallah and Sakr families in celebrating the power of forgiveness. …”

– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Government amendments to Religious Discrimination bills

Posted on February 9, 2022 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Government amendments to Religious Discrimination bills

“Debate in the House of Representatives in the Federal Parliament resumed today on the package of bills dealing with religious discrimination. …

The second reading debate continues on Wednesday, I think, but the government has now released two sets of amendments it will be making to the bills. …”

– Assoc Professor Neil Foster posted this update late last night (8th February 2022) at Law and Religion Australia.

Image: Diocese of Sydney.

A small step forward for religious freedom – with Bishop Michael Stead

Posted on February 8, 2022 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars, Opinion Comments Off on A small step forward for religious freedom – with Bishop Michael Stead

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“Religious Freedom will be debated in the Australian Parliament this week.

Two parliamentary reports were released late on Friday afternoon. MP’s and Senators have spent the weekend reading them.

The reports show the Coalition and Labor broadly in support of introducing improved protections for people of Faith.

The reports recommendations are set to go to the party rooms on Tuesday morning, and the House of Representatives as early as Tuesday afternoon.

Anglican Bishop Michael Stead is the new chair of Freedom for Faith.”

– Watch or listen at The Pastor’s Heart.

And please pray about the expected vote this afternoon (Tuesday 8th February).

See also:

Submission to the Senate Legal Affairs Committee on the Religious Discrimination Bill – Freedom for Faith.

Men Meeting the Challenge conference online Saturday 26th March 2022

Posted on February 8, 2022 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Men Meeting the Challenge conference online Saturday 26th March 2022

The organisers of the Men Meeting the Challenge conference on Saturday 26th March 2022 have announced that this year it will be online.

“The aim of this conference is to allow God’s mighty word to transform men from the inside out as we hear the Bible taught. Our prayer and our goal is to see men equipped for the service of God, his people and the world through knowing Jesus and understanding what it is to be a man who belongs to Him in this world. Our desire is for men to know and to proclaim the true gospel message that is faithfully recorded in the Scriptures.”

See the details and register at menforchrist.asn.au.

Parliamentary reports recommend passage of Religious Discrimination Bills

Posted on February 7, 2022 
Filed under Culture wars Comments Off on Parliamentary reports recommend passage of Religious Discrimination Bills

“Two committees of the Australian Federal Parliament examining proposed legislation on religious discrimination handed down their reports on Friday 4 February, 2022. Both committees recommended that the Bills introduced in November 2021 be passed by the Parliament, with some minor amendments. The report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (“PJCHR”) can be found here, and that of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee can be found here. …”

– Neil Foster posts the latest developments in the Religious Discrimination Bills.

Moderator of the Church of Pakistan calls for prayer following attack

Posted on February 7, 2022 
Filed under Anglican Communion Comments Off on Moderator of the Church of Pakistan calls for prayer following attack

The Moderator of the Church of Pakistan calls for prayer after last week’s attack on two Anglican pastors in Peshawar.

Anglican Mainstream is hosting a short video asking for your prayers.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Posted on February 6, 2022 
Filed under History, People, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Today marks 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II acceeded to the throne, on the death of her father King George VI.

Her Majesty has gone on to reign longer than any other British Monarch in history, and to become a beloved figure around the world – one who is unashamed to speak of the Lord Jesus.

Whatever your view of the British Monarchy, do be encouraged to pray for her, and to give thanks for her long, stable reign. As the Apostle Paul exhorts us,

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-6.

Photo:

Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with Bishop Jack Dain outside St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, on 13 March 1977. Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane is at the Queen’s side, and Bishop John Reid is at centre. At right, Dean of the Cathedral, Lance Shilton, stands with Prince Philip. Photo courtesy Ramon Williams.

In his biography of Archbishop Loane, “From Strength to Strength”, ACL Emeritus Vice-President Allan M. Blanch writes, on page 317,

At a special cathedral service on 13 March, the Archbishop preached from Revelation 21 about the City of God. He referred to Augustine of North Africa who, in the fifth century, ‘with the destroyers rapidly approaching the city … gave himself to contemplation of the City of God’.

Loane spoke of the citizens of that heavenly city: ‘They will suffer neither from poverty nor misery, from pain nor vice, from sorrow nor crying … There will be no room for a permissive society, or an alternate culture, or a wealthy elite, or a down-trodden minority; there will be no place for political intrigue, or public wrangling, or partisan interests, or power struggles’.

He concluded by saying, ‘Therefore let us pray that the Silver Jubilee of an earthly reign will enlarge our vision of all that lies beyond the frontiers of earth and time, and will strengthen our resolve to live our lives for the glory of Jesus Himself who reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords for ever and ever. Amen.’ [Emphasis added.]

St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney is marking the anniversary at its services today.

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