Covid-19 royally sucks, but it can teach us many things if we have ears to hear. We have been reminded of the benefits of slowing down, cooking food at home and going for walks. We’ve realised that good hygiene is good not only for slowing the spread of Covid-19, but also many other things we… Continue reading truth, grace and covid-19
Category: bible
God in spite of Sin
“Your sins have separated you from your God, and they have hidden his face from you so that he will not listen to you.” Isaiah 59:2 There are at least two ways to view this verse. One would be to view God as too pure to be around anyone or anything that is sinful, so… Continue reading God in spite of Sin
political participation
In the first century, around the time of Jesus and the early Christian moment, there were at least ‘parties’ representing four types of Jewish response to the occupying presence and rule of the Roman empire. Zealots, Essenes, Sadducees and Pharisees. Zealots and Violent Resistance The Zealots were an expression of angry resistance to Roman rule.… Continue reading political participation
through locked doors
One of the most emotionally difficult parts of the life of faith is when those you love don’t seem to have faith. For some, it could be a suspicion that the faith they claim to have isn’t authentic (Can someone who does ‘x’ really be a believer?). For others, it could be a lack of… Continue reading through locked doors
holistic christianity
From my understanding of Scripture, I can discern at least the following seven levels of Christian life. They signal – and invite us into – a rich, holistic way of life. A way of life that seems to apply at all times and in all places. After seven short statements sketching these seven levels, I… Continue reading holistic christianity
lonely but not alone
Singing of Christ’s burial between death and resurrection, the worship song sings: The entrance sealed by heavy stone; Messiah still and all alone. “O Praise the Name (Anastasis)” by Hillsong Worship The theologian protests, “No! Even as the incarnate Son unfathomably embraced fully and completely the reality of human death, the Father and the Spirit… Continue reading lonely but not alone
together
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things… Continue reading together
cunning engagement
On the issues where Christians agree with society, engagement is easy. But when there is a difference of opinion, Christians can, it seems, go to two extremes in their engagement. At one extreme, they can stomp, scream and shout about how bad and wrong the world is, telling non-Christians just how un-Christian they are. The… Continue reading cunning engagement
the danger of “I am not like ___” thinking
Mirroring the growing divide in political discourse around the world is a growing divide within the church between ‘conservative’ and ‘progressive’ believers. Both would claim to be trying to correctly express and live Christian faith, but it seems to me that ‘progressive’ believers see ‘correctly’ in terms of appropriate correction, adaptation and renovation, whilst ‘conservative’… Continue reading the danger of “I am not like ___” thinking
a theodicy of hope
Instead of attempting to use logic and reason to deduce a way to establish a valid justification for God (‘theos’) being just (‘dikaios’) in the light of suffering and evil, it may be more simple… The following statement of Jesus in John 16:33 is key: “In this world you will have trouble; but take heart,… Continue reading a theodicy of hope