‘What the New York Times gets wrong about complementarianism’

Posted on April 22, 2017 
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“Baird relies heavily on critics of complementarianism to define complementarianism. I suspect that is a major reason why the picture is so flawed. Baird quotes a feminist writer… who argues that complementarianism makes women into unwilling participants in their own marriage covenant.”

– Denny Burk writes at The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, with a response to Julia Baird’s recent article published in The New York Times. Read her article, and his response, and see if you agree.

Real faith in a performance dominated world

Posted on April 21, 2017 
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“We live in a world that constantly judges us by how well we perform. From preschool reports to professional annual reviews, performance assessments are everywhere.

Of course, in many cases it is entirely appropriate to assess performance. Businesses need to perform for their customers, politicians for their constituents, employees for their employers, sportspeople and artists for their fans. Assessing performance can help us make wise decisions about whom to buy from, vote for, employ, watch or listen to.

However, this focus on performance can easily become a burden. In our workplaces the anxiety of being constantly measured and assessed can be a major source of stress and depression. Even worse, the demand for performance can affect our friendships, our relationships and our family life.

Is our relationship with God based on our performance? Does God ‘assess’ us to determine our standing with him? …”

– ACL Council member, Dr Lionel Windsor, writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Earth Day message from Canadian Anglican and Lutheran leaders

Posted on April 21, 2017 
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“Through our Lenten Journey to Easter we have been reminded once again that Jesus offered his whole life and death for the love of the world …

As followers of Christ, we are also challenged to offer our lives for the love of the world. …  What happens when we touch the earth with faith?

Our churches are committed to responsible stewardship of the earth. As we celebrate Earth Day, we re-commit to our care for creation and commend the efforts of our congregations across the country to live out this call. We recommend that you or your congregation get involved with the Faith Commuter Challenge, a creative way to reduce your carbon footprint …”

– Anglican Church of Canada Archbishop, Fred Hiltz, and his Lutheran counterpart, have issued a message and prayer for Earth Day.

As Anglican Samizdat notes, loving the planet is not what John 3:16 is about.

Photo by Harrison H. Schmitt.

The dignity of work

Posted on April 20, 2017 
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Moore College’s next Centre for Christian Living event for the year will be on ‘The dignity of work’.

What is the nature of work? Does God care about our work? What role does work play in the Christian life?

Chase Kuhn and Peter Orr are speaking on the nature of work and its place in the Christian life – on Wednesday 17 May, from 7:30 to 9:30pm in the Marcus Loane Hall, at Moore College.

More details from the College.

Can kids tell other kids about Jesus at school?

Posted on April 19, 2017 
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“Astonishingly, the answer to the question posed here, recently provided by the Queensland Department of Education and Training is: No!

In their latest reviews of material used in Special Religious Instruction (SRI) offered in public schools in that State, they assert as follows:

While not explicitly prohibited by the [relevant legislation], nor referenced in the [Departmental published] RI policy statement, the Department expects schools to take appropriate action if aware that students participating in RI are evangelising to students who do not participate in their RI class, given this could adversely affect the school’s ability to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all students.

(This statement is found both in the Report on the Review of the GodSpace Religious Instruction Materials, March 2017, at para 3.1.1 on p 5, and in the Report on the Review of the ACCESS ministries’ Religious Instruction Materials, Feb 2017, at para 3.1.1 on p 6.)

In this post I want to explain why this over-reaching bureaucratic imposition is not justified by the law governing the Department’s activities, and indeed is probably illegal. …”

– Posted a few days ago, Neil Foster, Associate Professor in Law at Newcastle, gives his opinion on directives from the Queensland Department of Education and Training.

Easter meaning. C of E training. The faithful are deciding.

Posted on April 19, 2017 
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“… after the joy of the Easter service and the thrilling reminders of the Gospel truth, Chris found himself feeling very despondent three weeks later, sitting in his study with his two trainee lay readers. They were all having a debrief of the Lent and Easter season, and Karen and Michael were reflecting on their latest seminar with the Diocesan lay ministry training programme.

‘We heard, er, shall we say a very different take on the Road to Emmaus story, from the Dean, Reverend Doctor whatever his name is’, said Karen. ‘Yes – a good job you warned us beforehand’, continued Michael. …”

– At Anglican Mainstream, Andrew Symes illustrates the all-too-familiar story of liberalism in the Church of England. Tragically, similar stories could be told across Australia, as many of our readers could attest.

Queen’s Birthday Conference 2017

Posted on April 18, 2017 
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This year’s Two Ways Ministries’ Queen’s Birthday Conference will be held on the Queen’s Birthday public holiday, Monday 12th June.  Read more

Michael Kellahan to be Reader in Religious Freedom at Moore College

Posted on April 18, 2017 
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“The Principal has announced the appointment of the Rev Michael Kellahan as Moore College Reader in Religious Freedom. This new position will see the College working with Mr Kellahan to address one of the most pressing challenges of the moment in Australia and many other parts of the world. …

Michael has resigned as Senior Minister of Roseville East to take up a full-time role as Executive Director of Freedom for Faith, a legal think tank that exists to see religious freedom protected and promoted in Australia and beyond. …”

– Read the full announcement from Moore College.

‘Win for parents as Safe Schools is scrapped in NSW’

Posted on April 18, 2017 
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Here’s a media release from the Australian Christian Lobby –

Parents will no longer need to be worried that their child is being taught radical gender theory after the NSW Government announced the scrapping of the controversial Safe Schools program.

This is a positive step for NSW and the government is to be congratulated, says Australian Christian Lobby.  Read more

Secret tomb containing bodies of former Archbishops of Canterbury found under London museum

Posted on April 17, 2017 
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“Coffins containing the remains of five archbishops of Canterbury dating back to the early 17th century have been discovered in a secret tomb below a London church now used as a museum. …”

— Report from ABC News.

Painting of Abp Richard Bancroft via Wikipedia.

Related: Buried Archbishops “found by accident”? The CofE’s forgetfulness is galling – ‘Archbishop Cranmer’.

“Did the Church of England not know that there were at least five archbishops buried there? Couldn’t someone be bothered to check the records? Why was no archeological dig commissioned? This wasn’t just any old parish church: St Mary-at-Lambeth had been an adjunct to Lambeth Palace for centuries. Its flint and stone walls are 14th-century; its consecrated ground dates back to Edward the Confessor.”

The Message of the Resurrection

Posted on April 16, 2017 
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“There are several aspects of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ dwelt upon in the New Testament. It is profitable for us to consider two of them as we recall this outstanding event.

An aspect which is frequently overlooked in these days is brought prominently under our notice by St. Paul’s speech at Athens. Addressing Epicureans and Stoics Paul declared,

‘God commandeth all men everywhere to repent; Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead’ (Acts 17:30-31).

The Resurrection is a guarantee of judgment as it is an endorsement of the claim of our Lord to be the judge.”

– The Australian Church Record has republished this timely message from Archdeacon T.C. Hammond.

Easter message from Archbishop Foley Beach

Posted on April 16, 2017 
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Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, Foley Beach, encourages Christians to cut to the chase, this Easter.

If Christ is Not Risen…

Posted on April 16, 2017 
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“I’ve always had something of an aversion to the ‘if Christianity is not true what do you lose’ sort of apologetical approach — precisely because Scripture is God’s word and because it is perfect in all that God reveals in it.

To raise the question almost seems to inadvertantly jeopardize the veracity of it. Nevertheless, that is precisely the kind of reasoning that the Apostle Paul utilized in 1 Corinthians 15 after he appealed to the clear teaching of Scripture about Jesus’ death and resurrection …”

– Nick Batzig writes at Reformation21.

The offence of the cross: Why extremists attack churches at Easter

Posted on April 15, 2017 
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“On Palm Sunday jihadists attacked Churches in the Egyptian cities of Alexandria and Tanta killing at least 49 and injuring many others. In India Christians were targeted by Hindu extremists in at least five separate locations on the same day. …”

– Barnabas Fund points out that it is the Cross which many find so offensive.

A Legal Evaluation of the Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus

Posted on April 14, 2017 
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“On this Easter long weekend, as Christians around the world are remembering and celebrating the key events of the faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, readers may find a paper I wrote a little while ago helpful in evaluating the legal status of the various pieces of evidence supporting the fact of the resurrection. …”

– Our thanks to Neil Foster at Law and Religion Australia for these resources.

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