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When did Christians become so whiny?

The Church is so whiny at times. At least in the West it seems, from the various news outlets which like to showcase the "worst" (and actual worst) of the bunch. Sometimes I read articles and wonder why do certain Christians care so much about this!? It's usually a non-issue really, often under the guise of "principles" or "persecution." Now I realise that some of the articles I linked to above could also relate to serious issues that we, as Christians, should face and discuss. But even from a quick search on Huffington Post and the BBC News for "Christian", the majority of articles (as of writing) from America relate to homosexuality in some form, and for...

The next 50 years

The next fifty years in this country (the UK), and the U.S. — the West in general especially really — is going to be very interesting for society; for the Church. Mainly for the Church. Society is going through a major shift, almost on a global scale. A great divide is coming and will hit the Church over issues of sexuality and marriage. More so than it might already seem. A great divide is coming Only one side will come out of it as the dominant "winner". The other, to reside in obscurity in the annals of embarrassing history. Everything is being done under the guise of "Love" — almost as if to try and shame the Church into looking as though it...

BOOK REVIEW: Four Views on Hell 2nd edition

...d is Holy Love as we understand this, and the notion of hell as we have stated it, appear to be mutually exclusive ideas…Annihilation would simply be the conclusion of persistently rejecting the overtures of Holy Love. Importantly, according to this option, God does not choose annihilation. The recalcitrant sinner does. God does not ‘quit.’ This position has the strength of the Apostle Paul’s assertion that only for the saints will the mortal put on immortality (1 Cor.15:29-56).” (Al Truesdale, ‘Holy Love vs Eternal Hell: The Wesleyan Options’, Wesleyan Theological Journal, 36, 2001, 106 & 111, italics his) Gordon Graham reconciles, not mer...

The Real St. Nicholas: A Man of Virtue, Not Violence

...39) “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) If St. Nicholas truly slapped Arius, it would be an action in direct opposition to these commands. As a bishop of Christ, Nicholas would have been called to model patience, kindness, and forgiveness — even in the face of heresy. His life of service suggests that he likely did. A regular meme I see online annually The True St. Nicholas The real St. Nicholas is remembered for his compassion, humility, and selfless Love. Legends of him secretly providing dowries for poor families, rescuing sailors in peril, and helping the unjustly accused paint a picture of a man d...

David, Saul, And How We Respond To Broken Leadership

...When we think about David and Saul, we often focus on David’s rise to kingship or his battle with Goliath. But hidden within that story is a deep lesson for today’s generation about leadership, resistance, and the power of revolutionary Love. At a recent youth training event (thanks to South West Youth Ministries), I was asked how I would present the story of David and Saul to a Christian teenage youth group. My mind turned to the politics of their relationship, and how David accepted Saul’s leadership, even when Saul had gone badly astray. David recognised that Saul was still God’s anointed king — placed there by God Himself — and that it w...

Lent Day 19: Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church: 10-18

...Day Nineteen: St. Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church: 10-18 Who: Third century bishop of Carthage (in modern Tunisia), and martyr from Africa What: A letter to encourage the unity of the church against schisms and heresy during massive Roman persecution Why: A disturbance had happened in the church because of a priest called Novatian — a schismatic of the third century, and founder of the sect of the Novatians. Cyprian wrote to counter this and argues that there can only be one united Church, and the Novatian breakaway was a false church and that Novatian was an antipope.When: Around 249 AD You can find today’s reading on page 97 here: lentfatherscomple...