November 2010 Archives

A word to all you marathon runners, artists, cake bakers!  You think you're hard done by try having bad grammar and spelling. I'm like a leper in reformed community.... continue

I noticed this article this morning, and was particularly struck by the following quotation from an artist from an open letter apparently addressed to American churches:"An artist's relationship with you [the church] has not been easy; we are often in... continue

In this final post in the series, I want to offer some brief, practical guidelines on how to help keep a church on the rails.  Each could be a post in itself, but I have no wish to try your... continue

I have been asked several times this week, "Do you celebrate Thanksgiving?" As a Brit living in America, it's not quite on the same level as, "Do you celebrate the 4th of July in Britain?" (Yes, I really have been... continue

In my last two posts, I have tried to suggest that the reasons for a church's decline into liberalism are not always immediately doctrinal, but can actually arise out of a culture; and, by implication, the underlying story I am... continue

With the news that the Free Church have adopted a more open position on worship the usual discussions are beginning to be had. 'Why don't you Presbyterians just get together.'  It's true that the Free Church's decision does open up... continue

Because the Christian church in Britain will obviously never have to deal with ministries like this. ... continue

Yesterday, I noted how the big personality can shift the church in the wrong direction. A closely related phenomenon is that of the minister who thumbs his nose at the church's public standards of doctrine and practice, who decides that... continue

Been following the Wright/Schreiner/Thielman exchange over justification at ETS last week in Atlanta?   Among the many good points from Tom Schreiner's criticism is the challenge to Wright's insistence on making justification an ecclesiological issue and not a soteriological one, to... continue

Not all historical phenomena that manifest themselves as doctrinal are necessarily immediately doctrinal in cause or origin.'  That statement, made to me by a mentor in my field of historical theology, articulates a crucial principle, a principle that came to... continue