Signs of the times 1
(August 14, 2019)On the wall at our local shopping mall. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2
Tag: western society
Do a personal clean-up
(August 9, 2019)Monthly challenge: August. The monthly challenge Do you want to make a difference in the world, but don’t have time and energy for something big? There are small things we can all do each week to live more sustainably, more justly and more equitably. In the monthly challenge I will offer suggestions for small things […]
Losing my religion
(July 1, 2019)The word “religion” can have different meanings. At its simplest, it means “belief in and worship of God or gods” (Oxford Dictionary). But more precisely, religion is often seen as a designated set of beliefs and rituals by which people relate to a god. Thus religion (implying dogma and restrictions) is often contrasted to spirituality […]
Christians and politics – a deep devastation or glorious triumph?
(May 27, 2019)Just over a week ago was election day in Australia. After being behind in the polls for years, the Government was returned with a small majority. This was seen by most pundits as an important election, charting a course for Australia’s future. Christians seemed to be more active than in any previous election that I […]
Homophobia, Biblical truth and Israel Folau
(May 16, 2019)This is a post about what christians believe, how we should express our belief and how cultures can clash. This is a post about an unfortunate episode in Australian sport and culture, from which no-one is likely to emerge a winner. And hopefully this is a post that won’t add, even in a small way, […]
Modern western evangelicalism – easy religion for comfortable christians?
(May 3, 2019)I’ve been thinking for a while about modern western evangelical christianity. Not what some people may see as the worst of this belief system – televangelists, conservative politics and a focus on sexual ethics – but the mainstream. My initial christian experience was in this culture and belief, and while I have moved on in […]
Church for the 21st century?
(February 17, 2019)This is possibly the most revolutionary, revelatory and important book about the church and mission I have ever read. If you are interested in how the 21st century church can become a missionary community in first world countries, this book can teach us new ways, and inspire us to new efforts. If you are tired […]
When thoughtful christians begin to doubt
(January 30, 2019)In my previous post (When sensitive and thoughtful people begin to doubt) I looked at 4 different sets of musicians who were christians earlier in their lives, but had struggled with faith since then. Now I want to share a few thoughts on how churches and parents might help their youth to be able to […]
Which Jesus did you worship this Christmas?
(December 24, 2018)Jesus is such an important and admired character in world history and western culture that everyone seems to want to claim him for their tribe. So there are many different versions of Jesus for us to believe in. Shopping mall Jesus This is the most obvious Jesus, and the easiest to see through. Two months […]
"Just because you know something doesn't mean you have to say it!"
(November 12, 2018)I was raised in a family of four noisy boys. As we grew up, we became quite opinionated, and often argued, quite amicably but noisily, about religious, political, ethical and a thousand more trivial issues that interested us. When each of us found girlfriends and eventually wives, they didn’t always find our loud and rambunctious […]