Beauty for Ashes The June Record Editorial The people of Issachar were blessed to have 200 leaders who ‘understood the times and knew what Israel should do’ (1 Chronicles 12:32). When we look at the wider situation in the government and church, we sometimes wonder if there are two who could fit that description! When we try to understand the times, we are tempted to … Continue reading Beauty for Ashes – The June Record Editorial
This is an article which was published in the last ever edition of The Australian Presbyterian. It is a transcribed interview with Mark Powell which in the light of yesterdays post – A Bittersweet Day helps explain my thinking. We contrast the situations in the UK and Australia. On the Precipice Australian churches, 10 years behind Scotland’s decline, must return to basics. David Robertson talks … Continue reading An Interview with the Australian Presbyterian
As we come to St Andrews day tomorrow and to pray for the nation we need to think about the state of the Church as well. In this article I want to look at the state of the Church in Scotland – but those of you from other nations may be able to empathise and apply to your own situations. In the article on the State … Continue reading Pray for the Church – Why We Should Be Concerned About the Sins of the Church
This is the letter I sent to the congregation as we left for our sabbatical in Australia. Dear Brothers and Sisters at St Peters, I am writing to thank you for your fellowship and service in the Lord and your generous gift to us on our 25th year in ministry in St Peters, before we head away on sabbatical. The Kirk Session and the Presbytery … Continue reading Sabbatical Letter to St Peters
As we head towards St Andrews Day – its perhaps appropriate to reflect on the state of the Church in Scotland – and given the amount of publicity they have received this week, especially The Church of Scotland. It is drifting into ‘irrelevance and obscurity’. No – this is not another analysis from an ‘outsider’ such as yours truly. This is an article/press release … Continue reading The Suicide of the Church of Scotland – A Call to Prayer for St Andrews Day
“Q: Why doesn’t @theweeflea, director of Solas, have a single #Reformation tweet on or around #ReformationDay?” This is the tweet that broke the camels back! Every couple of months an American fundamentalist called Chuck O’Neal, tweets a message which is then retweeted to me several times by his followers, identifying me as a friend of the Antichrist and a counter reforming heretic in the midst … Continue reading Popery, Psalms and Protestant Pharisees
Last night I had a discussion/question time with a lovely group of ‘more mature’ people, mostly from a C of S background. They were a fascinating group of people with lots of questions, thoughts, doubts and fears. It was just a real joy to be able to share with them on the Old Testament, Jesus, etc. We had a great evening as we opened the Scriptures. It was … Continue reading Lessons from Scotland – A Call to Ministers and Pastors in Scotland and Beyond
Why Bother?
Why did I bother debating Scott McKenna? Was it some kind of church politics, seeking to score theological points against the Church of Scotland? Was it just because I love arguing and a good theological rammie gets the blood circulating? Was it just another pathetic attempt at self-publicity – pick a fight and they will come running?
Insofar as it is possible to discern one’s own motives let me simply state that my only reason for debating Scott was to seek to bring the Gospel both to him and his congregation. I believe that what he teaches is from the pit of hell and that it condemns people to hell. Much as I hate things such as slavery, poverty and racism and would and do campaign against them both within and out with the church, I hate the teaching of a false gospel even more – because it takes away from the glory and beauty of Christ, and pulls people away from Continue reading “Whither Church of Scotland Evangelicals now?”
Last Monday I woke up in a cold sweat knowing that I was going to have to prepare a sermon on Psalm 58. I was not looking forward to it…as for me it is one of the ‘hard’ and most difficult passages of Scripture. What does it mean “the righteous will be glad when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked”? My … Continue reading A difficult and hard sermon – Psalm 58 – The Righteous Dip Their Feet in the Blood of the Wicked? Do not Destroy!
A New Years Wish List for the Church in Scotland in 2014 “No greater mischief can happen to a Christian people, than to have God’s word taken from them, or falsified, so that they no longer have it pure and clear. God grant we and our descendants be not witnesses of such a calamity.” (Luther – Table Talk). As I prepare to head for … Continue reading A New Years Wish List for the Church in Scotland
