Earlier this year I promised a post on the selective biblical literalism that eschews addressing clergy as “Father”. Jesus says: “And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9) Firstly, is Jesus forbidding calling our biological, adopting, or earthly father, “father”? For the God-as-rock metaphor to
Call no man “Father” Read More »
My e-friend and commenter here, Rev. Joshua Bovis, has a blog post essentially on the value of liturgical repetition in a vibrant church life. He reproduces an article by Mark Brolly (in TMA) reflecting on a lecture at Ridley College by retired Bishop of North Sydney, Bishop Paul Barnett. The primary value of his post,
Remember to Survive Read More »
The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debateby John H. Walton IVP Academic (2009) 192 pages. I find it exhilarating when someone picks up an idea and rotates it so that, by looking at it from a quite different direction, I see it with a new freshness. John Walton, professor of
The Lost World of Genesis One Read More »
Those who believe in sola scriptura (“Scripture alone”) cannot agree amongst themselves what this concept actually means. For some the Bible does not just point to God’s revelation, or tell the story of God’s revelation – the Bible is God’s revelation. “Tradition” for these people is nothing more than the history of interpreting the Bible.
“Sola Scriptura” Meaningless Read More »
Some discussions, on this site and elsewhere, are different variants of reflecting on what the Bible is for Christians. In the midst of some people’s tub-thumping of the term sola scriptura (belief in the Bible alone) some people can give the impression that those who do not use the term sola scriptura somehow do not
What is the Bible? Read More »
NT Wright (Anglican bishop, leading New Testament scholar, prolific author) has parked his Trojan Horse firmly inside the Reformation walls. Because he dresses like a local, and talks like a local, few have noticed him wandering freely around the Reformation camp removing one of the most significant weapons from the Reformation armoury: justification by faith
Wrong about sola scriptura Read More »
Here is an interesting list by Tim Chesterton, regular participant in the community around this site: Here is a short list of some other things that I cannot reconcile with strict adherence to the letter of scripture: 1. Lending money at interest. 2. Refusing help to beggars on the streets when they ask for money.
Recently an e-friend of mine got a tattoo. And talked about it online. He is a Christian with a big following online. Well, the resulting very public hostility is enough to put anyone off Christianity. You can divide “Bible-believing Christians” into three: those who think the Bible forbids tattoos; those who think the Bible allows
