Knowing where we stand
Posted on February 8, 2019
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“Sometimes, in just one public argument, all the worst winds gather together as a perfect storm. Perhaps no article in recent months fits that mould more than an opinion piece that ran just days ago in The Washington Post by veteran columnist Richard Cohen. The headline of the article reads, ‘It’s Not Just Northam. Republicans Must Confront the Bigotry of the Pences Too.’ …
Cohen makes a now familiar argument – he creates a moral parallel between the question of racism and anyone who believes that LGBTQ behaviors and relationships are sinful. He equates discrimination based on skin color with the moral agenda of gay rights.”
– Once again, Albert Mohler reminds Bible-believing Christians of the challenges coming.
Why ‘We’re just like You’ isn’t a great ‘USP’
Posted on February 8, 2019
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“Like many of my generation, I was heavily influenced by student ministry, and set off to theological college ready to take on and change the world – or, to be more accurate, to change the church.
It wasn’t the only thing I wanted to do. I did long to see people become Christians, for example. But I also wanted church to be ‘good’. I wanted to do everything in my power to see the Bible taught well; to make sure that the cringe factor was eliminated from what we did when we were together. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Gary Millar calls for a change of thinking in the way we present church. (Photo: CMS.)
Dr Gavin Ashenden — Conversations with John Anderson
Posted on February 7, 2019
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Dr Gavin Ashenden is the latest guest on Conversations with John Anderson, former Australian Deputy Prime Minister. They speak about the current threats to freedom in Europe and elsewhere.
9Marks Journal: Ecclesiology for Calvinists
Posted on February 6, 2019
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The latest 9Marks Journal – February 2019 – is now available as a free download.
Plenty to think about.
Bigoted Quackery?
Posted on February 6, 2019
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“Let me be the first to engage in some bigoted quackery and talk conversion.
That is to quote Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who has announced plans to ban so-called ‘LGBT conversion therapy.’
Speaking on Sunday at Melbourne’s Midsumma Pride March, Andrews vigorously criticised the idea that someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity can be changed, calling it ‘a most personal form of torture, a cruel practice that perpetuates the idea that LGBTI people are in some way broken.’
‘We will drag these practices out of the dark ages and into the brightest of lights.’
Then he called it ‘bigoted quackery’ – see my opening remark.
This is at first bewildering for the average Christian reader if only because few have ever heard of something called ‘LGBT conversion therapy.’ It’s a term invented by them, not us.
So, we are left to ask what it means. …
The Human Rights Law Centre and La Trobe University … report condemns the ‘insidious practice’ of churches having a ‘welcoming but not affirming’ policy akin to the adage, ‘love the sinner but not the sin.’…”
– The Australian Christian Lobby’s Martyn Iles unpacks some of the challenges facing Christians in Victoria, and across Australia.
Visible and invisible
Posted on February 6, 2019
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“The distinction between the Church visible and invisible was coined by Luther and Zwingli in the sixteenth century, and was much used by all the Reformers, our own included.
The wording of Article XIX (“The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men…”) implies this distinction, and it was in fact basic to all Anglican thinking about the church for more than a century after the Reformation. …“
– The Australian Church Record has republished this 1962 article by Dr. J. I. Packer.
Nexus19 on Monday 25th March — for constructive encouragement in evangelism
Posted on February 5, 2019
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The Nexus Conference for 2019 is coming up at Carlingford on Monday 25th March.
For those who can’t be there in person, the event will be livestreamed to sites across Australia.
Read more about the conference – and let Canon Phil Colgan (who also spoke on this topic at the 2018 ACL Synod Dinner) encourage you to keep the proclamation of the saving gospel of Jesus front and centre.
Anglican Aid Prayer Diary 2019
Posted on February 4, 2019
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Sydney parishes will have received copies of The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid Prayer Diary for 2019.
If you find it more convenient to download as a PDF file to your device, for use on the go, you can get a copy here – or read it online.
If you use the free PrayerMate app, you can subscribe to the Anglican Aid feed.
“New $7.3 million Glebe residence planned for Archbishop Glenn Davies”
Posted on February 3, 2019
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“For more than a century Sydney’s Anglican archbishops resided in the 1841-built sandstone mansion Bishopscourt, but the church’s official Sydney residence may take on a far more contemporary look in the future, according to DA plans before Sydney City Council. …”
– Story from Domain (however, at Sydney Synod, it was explained that Archbishop Davies is expected to have retired by the time the planned residence is built).
The Pilgrim’s Progress — free audiobook for February 2019
Posted on February 2, 2019
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ChristianAudio’s free audiobook for February 2019 is The Pilgrim’s Progress.
This version is read by Nadia May. It runs for 10 hours and 10 minutes.
Better than Inclusion: Welcome! Response to Church of England Guidance on Gender Transition Services
Posted on February 1, 2019
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Glen Scrivener from Speak Life speaks with Dr Ian Paul about the open letter released this week, ‘A Response to the House of Bishops guidance on Transgender Welcome’, and the whole issue of gender dysphoria.
Ian Paul reaffirms that everyone is welcome at church, and explains why.
Read the Letter and see the signatories which includes more than a thousand Church of England clergy.
The evangelistic conversation
Posted on February 1, 2019
Filed under Encouragement, Resources Comments Off on The evangelistic conversation
“Evangelistic conversations can be tough. Really tough. They can be so tough and discouraging that, after having a few, many people give up and never try again.
However, there are things we can do to allow a tough situation to become enjoyable – and more importantly, effective.
So, what’s a good way to engage in an evangelistic conversation? …”
– Here’s some encouragement from Dave Jensen at GoThereFor.com.
“Transgender Baptism” – How should we Respond? — GAFCON UK
Posted on January 31, 2019
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Gafcon UK has published a briefing for Parochial Church Councils in the Church of England –
“Just before Christmas, the House of Bishops published pastoral guidance which ‘welcomes and encourages the unconditional affirmation of trans people’ – and encourages clergy to use existing liturgy (of Baptism, Confirmation or the Affirmation of Baptismal Faith) if a transgender adult wishes to reaffirm their Christian faith and mark their transition.
This has caused considerable concern amongst lay and ordained members of the Church of England for a variety of theological and pastoral reasons. This briefing seeks to summarise some of those concerns and suggest ideas for further reading.”
– Read the briefing, and related documents, here.
See also:
2,000 clergy sign letter saying new Church of England service for trans people may ‘harm’ children – Telegraph.
“Some 2,155 bishops, priests and lay members of the church have added their names to the letter which condemns new guidance released last month on gender transition.”
The Cross — Why did Jesus die?
Posted on January 30, 2019
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“Why did Jesus die?
This series is entirely given over to exploring answers to that question. It’s an odd question to ask in some ways. What sort of question are we asking?
It could, of course, be a medical question. History tells us Jesus died by crucifixion, but a coronial inquest might want to go into exactly how crucifixion brings about someone’s demise. Was exposure, or asphyxiation, or heart failure the actual cause of Jesus death? Jesus did after all die with unusual speed. A death by crucifixion often took days; for Jesus it was a mere six hours. There’s something here worth exploring.
Historians, on the other hand, are interested in the historical causes of Jesus death.
A historian might ask whether the claim that Jesus died by crucifixion is historically plausible. The French atheist Michel Onfray claimed several years ago that the Romans didn’t crucify Jews at this period in history, and therefore the claim that Jesus died by crucifixion was historically suspect. Onfray’s claim is a little perplexing, given the preponderance of evidence for first century Roman executions of Jews. Still, it is a claim that could be asked and answered in good faith by historical method.
Historians might also be interested in the political question. On which charges, and under who’s authority, and through the action which historical actors, was Jesus crucified?
These are all questions to which we may return. Christian theology is not easily partitioned off from history, politics, or even biology. But the primary purpose of this series is to address a different question, the theological question. What was God doing in the death of Jesus? …”
– Rory Shiner begins a six-part series at The Gospel Coalition Australia.
Anglicans honoured on Australia Day 2019
Posted on January 30, 2019
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Christian businessman and philanthropist Tim Sims and Anglicare Board member Ian Steward are among those on the Australia Day Honours List for 2019.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…