Congregationalism – real, radical, or imaginary?

Posted on April 18, 2011 
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“The attacks on the Anglican Diocese of Sydney will probably never go away. It is  almost certainly right that they don’t. We are far from perfect and our mistakes will always leave us open to criticism. Yet I’m convinced there’s much more to rejoice in than to criticise.

What is more, often the most virulent attacks come from the most predictable places…

Nevertheless, it is worth engaging with the criticism rather than dismissing it out of hand…”

– Mark Thompson asks if the picture that’s painted of Sydney Diocese is a fair one – at Theological Theology.

Illustrations of Compromise in Church History

Posted on April 15, 2011 
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Church Society has republished an important 1988 Churchman paper by D A Scales. He looks at –

The Arian Controversy, The Colloquy of Ratisbon of 1541, The Evangelical C of E bishops debate about sacerdotal vesture in 1912, the 1922 debate about Liberalism within the Church Missionary Society in Britain, and the ‘new evangelicalism’ at Keele, 1967.

If you don’t normally think much about Christian history, this would be a good article to read to be alerted to the ever-present danger of losing the gospel.

Download it here as a PDF file.

The Praise Factory — resources for discipling children

Posted on April 11, 2011 
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We’ve mentioned this before — but Connie Dever’s Praise Factory website is well worth checking. New material has been recently added.

(Connie, and her husband, Mark, are at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC.)

Preaching Christ from the Old Testament

Posted on April 6, 2011 
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The Proclamation Trust is making available as a free download Sinclair Ferguson’s booklet, “Preaching Christ from the Old Testament”.

Download it as a PDF file from the Proc Trust website.

More musings on Genesis

Posted on April 2, 2011 
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Barry Newman’s blog is worth checking – as an example of careful examination of the Biblical text.

At the moment, he’s continuing his series on ‘Science and Genesis”. While you might not agree with every post, he provides plenty of material for thoughtful reflection on the meaning of God’s word.

New Moore College Faculty blog

Posted on March 31, 2011 
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It’s called Thinktank, and is on the Moore College website.

No time for games

Posted on March 26, 2011 
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Justin Taylor links to a powerful and very sobering challenge from David Platt about ‘functional universalism’.

Watch the video here. (Download it here.)

A Theological Conversation worth having: Al Mohler’s response to Brian McLaren

Posted on March 24, 2011 
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“…a recent essay by Brian McLaren helps us all to understand what is at stake in the controversy over Rob Bell’s new book, Love Wins.

Beyond this, his argument reveals a great deal about the actual beliefs and trajectories of what has become known as the emerging church. As such, his essay is a welcome addition to this important conversation.”

– Albert Mohler responds to Brian McLaren’s critique of Mohler’s review of Rob Bell’s new book. (Photo: brianmclaren.net)

Three free hymns

Posted on March 23, 2011 
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Keith and Kristyn Getty are giving free downloads of three of their hymns — Behold the Lamb, The Power of the Cross, and Come, People of the Risen King — up until 31 March. (h/t Tim Challies.)

Jesus: The Only Way to God — free audiobook

Posted on March 22, 2011 
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John Piper’s book “Jesus: The Only Way to God — Must You Hear the Gospel to be Saved?” is especially relevant given the publicity surrounding Rob Bell’s latest publication.

The people at Christian Audio are giving away an audiobook version through their website for the next week (ends March 31 2011). (h/t Justin Taylor.)

NSW Votes

Posted on March 22, 2011 
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The NSW State elections are just days away.

While not endorsing or recommending any particular party, the Australian Christian Lobby has collected resources and links which may be helpful in considering how to vote.

Their site is nswvotes.org.au.

And their videos of both the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition addressing Christian leaders are at Vimeo, where they can be downloaded.

Martin Bashir on interviewing Rob Bell

Posted on March 20, 2011 
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Last week on the American MSNBC, veteran journalist Martin Bashir interviewed Rob Bell about his new book.

The 7 minute interview is itself worth watching – but also listen to the 39 minute phone interview with Martin Bashir on why he asked the questions he did.

Very interesting interview, and a modelling of good journalism. (Image: MSNBC.)

Anglican Entropy

Posted on March 19, 2011 
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“The second law of thermodynamics tells us that as energy is expended over time, order in the universe inexorably gives way to disorder. The fundamental physical truth behind the cycles of birth and death is that things fall apart, leading ultimately to a static and random state known as entropy.

In the spiritual realm, there is no such necessity. St Paul affirms that ‘Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.’ (2 Corinthians 4:16), yet entropy irresistibly comes to mind as a metaphor following Dr William’s Lent Letter to the Primates and Moderators of the Anglican Communion.

Here we have carefully crafted verbal camouflage for what is actually one more step in Lambeth Anglicanism’s descent into spiritual and institutional entropy…”

– Charles Raven writes at SPREAD.

Bibles for Japan — Bible League request

Posted on March 18, 2011 
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Here’s a press release from the Bible League in Australia – perhaps you can help:

Urgent Request from Churches in Japan for Bibles

The recent earthquake and tsunami that has devastated parts of Japan has shocked us all.  It is hard for us in Australia to fully comprehend the enormity of the disaster. Whole communities have been wiped out and tens of thousands are unaccounted for, presumed dead. Many have lost their home, family, friends, income and hope.

Through our international office we have received an urgent request from the Evangelical Churches in Japan for Bibles. The Bibles will be distributed in the areas most affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Included with the Bibles will be study materials to assist the churches with their humanitarian and pastoral care.

With Christians comprising less than 1.5% of Japan’s population of 127 million, there is an unprecedented opportunity to bring the true hope and assurance found only in God’s Word to many whose lives and security have been shattered.

Bibles are being sourced at the special discount rate of $2.50 each and our target is to supply a minimum of 20,000 copies. Your donation will help Bible League meet this urgent need for Bibles in Japan. To make a donation contact Bible League on 1800 800 937 [in Australia] or visit our website at www.bibleleague.com.au.

The local church and evangelism

Posted on March 18, 2011 
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“Back in 1974 Donald Robinson (second from the left in this photograph of the four most recent Archbishops of Sydney) addressed a conference on evangelism with a paper entitled ‘The Doctrine of the Church and its Implications for Evangelism’ (Selected Works, II, 103–113).

I was too young at the time to know whether or not it caused a stir among evangelicals in Sydney and elsewhere (though I later learnt there was a subsequent correspondence between Francis Foulkes and Donald Robinson on the subject in the AFES journal Interchange). However I do suspect that its argument, if taken seriously, would certainly cause a stir today. Patterns of thinking and church practice have developed which move in an entirely different direction and I am not at all sure that these have been as well thought-out theologically as Robinson’s article back in the 1970s…”

– Read all of Mark Thompson’s article at Theological Theology.

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