A New Kind of Christianity?

Posted on February 18, 2010 
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Tim Challies writes about Brian McLaren’s new book, A New Kind of Christianity and comes to a tragic conclusion –

“It wasn’t too long ago that I wrote about Brian McLaren and got in trouble. Reflecting on seeing him speak at a nearby church, I suggested that he appears to love Jesus but hate God.

Based on immediate and furious reaction, I quickly retracted that statement. I should not have done so. I believed it then and I believe it now. And if it was true then, how much more true is it upon the release of his latest tome A New Kind of Christianity. In this book we finally see where McLaren’s journey has taken him; it has taken him into outright, rank, unapologetic apostasy. He hates God. Period.”

Tim Challies is not alone – Kevin DeYoung is planning a three-part review, and Mike Wittmer (who teaches Theology at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary) has also been analysing the book.

Brian McLaren was invited to speak at the 2008 Lambeth Conference.

(Photo: brianmclaren.net)

Latest Anglicare newsletter online

Posted on February 17, 2010 
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Anglicare’s latest CARE newsletter is now online.

“Commencing a new year, I realise perhaps more than ever, that faith is the glue that holds our work together. Amidst all the necessary planning, thinking, meetings and sheer hard work we undertake at ANGLICARE, faith in Jesus Christ is indispensible.” – Anglicare CEO Peter Kell.

Reduce your carbon footprint for Lent — bishops

Posted on February 17, 2010 
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“British church leaders are encouraging people to give up their iPods for Lent, to help save the planet. The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, and the Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones, are among those calling for a carbon fast for Lent…”

– Report from News.com.au. See the related Tearfund UK press release –  and also this from Kairos (Canada) ‘Carbon Fast for Lent’.

(Lent used to be a time of reflecting on the Lord Jesus Christ and what he laid aside in order to save men and women from hell.) Photo: Bishop Richard Chartres.

Carson at Moore on Christ and Culture

Posted on February 17, 2010 
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Don Carson spoke at Moore College in April 2008 – and his talks on ‘Christ and Culture’ are now available on the MTC website. (h/t Justin Taylor)

Ridley Preaching Conference 2009

Posted on February 16, 2010 
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Looking for encouragement in preaching?

Kanishka Raffel, David Jackman and Peter Adam spoke at last year’s Ridley Preaching Conference in Melbourne. You can hear the talks at the Ridley website.

What would the ACNA look like in 3D?

Posted on February 15, 2010 
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“Last Wednesday’s vote in the English General Synod to ‘recognize and affirm the desire of those who have formed the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) to remain within the Anglican family’ was a very positive step forward. …

But taking part in a BBC television debate yesterday about the future of the Anglican Communion… brought home to me that the theological truth of the ‘fork in the road’ embodied in the GAFCON Jerusalem Statement and Declaration of 2008 needs to be kept crystal clear if this process of recognition is going to bear good fruit and not be terminally compromised by institutionalists …”

– Charles Raven writes at SPREAD.

Barry Newman on Baptism Revisited — full series

Posted on February 15, 2010 
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Barry Newman has now completed his series of posts revisiting his earlier series on Biblical Baptism – and he’s made them available as a PDF file at his blog.

Sure to provoke discussion.

Smiting Morality with Gospel Joy

Posted on February 14, 2010 
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John Piper reads a powerful quote from CS Lewis.

Not enough sex talk?

Posted on February 13, 2010 
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“Gender and sexuality have caused divisions in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. Same-sex unions are upheld in some churches and not in others; the same is true for gay clergy. While there are more than 3,300 churches that affirm lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender congregants, 57 percent of Protestant clergy hardly ever discuss issues specific to the gay and lesbian community.

But according to “Sexuality and Religion 2020,” a report released this week, they probably should. …

“Religious leaders in clergy are not getting the training they need to address sexuality, and 70 percent seldom or never discuss sexuality issues,” said the Rev. Debra Haffner, director of the institute and co-author of the report.”

– Story from The Statesman in Austin, Texas.

The Religious Institute, a pro-homosexual multifaith organisation, has posted their document here. (Is this the training for clergy they had in mind?)

Update: Al Mohler comments.

Why I return with hope from the C of E General Synod

Posted on February 13, 2010 
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The Rev. Phil Ashey, Chief Operating and Development Officer of the American Anglican Council, and Bishop David Anderson, travelled to the Church of England General Synod to observe the debate on Lorna Ashworth’s Private Member’s Motion.

“I come home with great hope for the future of orthodox, Christ-centered, biblical and missional Anglicanism in North America and the UK.”

Read his report here – and also the report from Bishop David Anderson.

C of E extend pensions to gay partners

Posted on February 12, 2010 
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“The Church of England has voted to extend the same pension rights to the partners of gay clergy as those now given wives or husbands, officials say…” – Story from UPI.

Lorna Ashworth’s motion on ACNA

Posted on February 12, 2010 
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Anglican TV has made available the video of Lorna Ashworth’s speech in support of the Anglican Church in North America at the Church of England General Synod.

Votes for 309, against 69, abstentions 17.

Audio of the entire debate is available from the Synod website.

Vanishing Christianity — A Lesson from the Presbyterians

Posted on February 12, 2010 
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The liberalism of the Presbyterian Church of the USA is not new, but a recent survey highlights the issues. In writing about the survey, Albert Mohler concludes,

“This is a church that has lost its confidence in the Gospel in terms of the clear biblical claim that salvation comes only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. … The crisis has migrated from the pulpits to the pews, and recovery is only a dim and distant hope…”

– The report to which Dr Mohler refers in his article is available here.

(The older, now liberal, PCUSA, about which he writes, should not be confused with the PCA, of which Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, is a member.)

Honour for Sydney churchman

Posted on February 12, 2010 
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“The deputy chancellor of the Diocese of Sydney, Robert Tong, has been appointed a member of the Order of Australia for services to the Anglican Church. The award was announced on Jan 26 in the Australia Day honours list…”

– The Church of England Newspaper reports the Australia Day Honours – via George Conger’s blog.

Ageless newsletter Feb 2010 online

Posted on February 12, 2010 
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The February 2010 issue of Ageless, the newsletter of TABA (Ministry To and By the Ageing) is now available as a PDF file from their website.

(TABA is a ministry of the Anglican Deaconess Institution Sydney.)

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