A House Divided?
Posted on August 5, 2009
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“Rowan Williams’ proposal for a ‘two-track’ Anglican Communion is a theological disaster. Beyond this, it is almost certainly unworkable.
The reason for this is simple — both sides in this controversy see the question of homosexuality as both unavoidable and fundamental. Both sides see the question as far too important to remain unsettled. Neither side can accept the permanent disagreement of the other. …”
– Albert Mohler writes at his blog.
See also, “Are we about to go to war?” by Peter Ould and some comments by John Richardson. (Photo: ACNS.)
God the Peacemaker: Graham Cole on the Atonement
Posted on August 5, 2009
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Graham Cole’s most recent book is a biblical theology of the Atonement – God the Peacemaker: How Atonement Brings Shalom.
It gets a mention at Between Two Worlds – and there’s an interview with Graham.
What does inerrancy mean? Is it essential to Christian belief?
Posted on August 5, 2009
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In this video clip from The Gospel Coalition, Don Carson speaks about what Christians believe about the reliability of the Bible. (h/t Andy Naselli.)
What Men need in a church
Posted on August 5, 2009
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“Most of all men need another man. If a man builds a real friendship within your church body, good things happen. A man with a ‘brother’ will be a better man at home and at work. …”
– David Moore reflects on what is helpful for men in church.
Insights from B.B. Warfield
Posted on August 4, 2009
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Carl Trueman is giving the annual Eliza Ferrie public lecture at the Presbyterian Theological Centre in Burwood on Wednesday 12th August. His topic? “The Essence of Christianity and the Cross of Christ: Insights from B.B. Warfield.”
Details of this and the Confess or Die Conference (7-8 August) at the PTC website.
More of the same from TEC
Posted on August 3, 2009
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As reported by The Los Angeles Times, six candidates have been nominated for the upcoming election of two bishops suffragan in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Of these, two are in same-sex relationships.
At Stand Firm, Greg Griffith wonders what happened to an online posting from one of the candidates. (Picture: Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles Bishop Jon Bruno.)
Cuts at Anglican Media
Posted on August 3, 2009
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At SydneyAnglicans.net, Jeremy Halcrow reports on the changes at Anglican Media Sydney –
“Anglican Media has been forced to retrench Mr Hadley and two other senior staff, while three full-time positions will be made part-time, in the latest round of job cuts caused by the Diocese’s financial losses.”
– and Mark Hadley reflects on the personal implications of “seeking first the kingdom”.
Please continue to pray for all affected by the global financial crisis.
Do not rejoice in this
Posted on August 3, 2009
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John Piper writes:
“On vacation I was meditating on Luke 10:17-20 where Jesus tells us not to be overly excited about our ability to do feats of triumph in defeating the devil. Rather he says, fix the root of your joy in this: Your names are written in heaven. Amazing.
Most of us are moved more by the fireworks of miracles than by the mere assurance of salvation. Something is amiss. So I lingered long enough here to put my heart right. And in the process wrote a poem…”
Free audio book for August 2009
Posted on August 3, 2009
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For something rather different, this month’s free audiobook download from Christian Audio is Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy.
The 11 part download in mp3 format comes to 357MB and is available at www.christianaudio.com/free – use the code AUG2009 at the checkout to get it free.
New Sovereign Grace album preview
Posted on August 2, 2009
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A preview of the forthcoming album ‘Sons & Daughters’ from Sovereign Grace is now online at their website.
NT Wright on GC09 and the Archbishop of Canterbury: Unpacked or Repackaged?
Posted on August 1, 2009
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“It has been said of the great twentieth century theologian Karl Barth that his was ‘a maverick ego that never lost the sense of continuity with itself’.
Whether the Bishop of Durham, one of Anglicanism’s most heavyweight theologians, has a maverick ego could be an interesting debate, but a strong ego is undoubtedly an asset to any theologian. In his ‘unpacking’ of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s reflections on TEC’s recent General Convention, he clearly demonstrates continuity with himself, but there is a worrying discontinuity in the image we are given of Rowan Williams. …”
– Charles Raven at SPREAD comments on Bishop Tom Wright’s “Rowan’s Reflections: Unpacking the Archbishop’s Statement” at Fulcrum.
More ideas for connecting
Posted on July 31, 2009
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Steve McCoy in the US writes, “I’ve noticed in my life and in the life of my family that 5 tools have stood out this summer as helpful for connecting with our neighbours. Here they are for you. …”
– Not everything translates exactly, but there are some good, simple ideas here.
Themelios — July 2009 edition online
Posted on July 31, 2009
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The latest edition of Themelios, published by The Gospel Coalition, is available on their website.
It’s a free download in a choice of formats (e.g. a 1.2MB PDF file).
Christian Missions in the Third Millennium
Posted on July 31, 2009
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“The impulse of the missionary conviction is drawn from the assurance that God saves sinners, and that He is glorifying Himself by creating a new people through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we have the glad opportunity to glorify God by declaring the Gospel to all the peoples of the earth. …” (emphasis added.)
– Albert Mohler’s comments are a world away from this earlier story.
God’s place in the Dreaming
Posted on July 31, 2009
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“The Uniting Church recently became the first major Christian denomination in Australia to commence processes to formally acknowledge, in the Preamble to its Constitution, Australia’s traditional owners and their pre-existing relationship with the Creator God. …”
– from The Uniting Church website – emphasis added.
(Romans 1:16-23 also speaks about everyone’s pre-existing relationship with God.)
See also:
In addition to recognising Aborigines as the first people to settle in Australia, the preamble also acknowledges that the church did not bring God to Australia’s indigenous people.
“They’re saying it’s not Europeans who brought God to this land on a boat,” Reverend Murray Muirhead, from the Aboriginal wing of the Uniting Church in Alice Springs, told ABC radio.
“God had already been here for millennia.”
– report from The Brisbane Times, July 21, 2009.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…