Monthly Archives: May 2012
Marketplace Christianity – In a Marketplace!
What is Marketplace Christianity really? Generally, the term “Marketplace Christianity” is used to describe the way in which a believer can represent their faith in their normal life – in most cases, at work. I do think its helpful for us to ponder how to live out our life in such settings, but is the […]
Gospel of John
The Gospel of John: Many people’s favourite book, but scholars neglected it for centuries!
Gentleness and respect. Sharing your faith.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect – 1 Peter 3:15 Some time ago I had a long (spanning 18 months) conversation by Facebook email, with an Atheist who sought me out after […]
How to: Converse with an Atheist about faith
How do we talk about faith with Atheists? I don’t claim to have the final word on the topic, but it’s about time for an initial word! For several hundred years, Christianity has too often approached the Atheist with pointed finger, and accusations and threats. All in “love”, of course! Because we don’t want the poor […]
Is the practice of “Journaling” Biblical?
Define the Gospel In Christianity Today, on 14th June, 1999 (>Article<), nine Evangelical leaders were invited to “define the gospel” within about 300 words. The responses are very interesting, highlighting the various emphases of their various traditions.
Read MoreWhat is Transubstantiation? When a Zebra is not a Zebra; it’s an Ottoman, but it’s still a Zebra.
What is Transubstantiation? The Roman Catholic theology of Transubstantiation describes the Bread and Wine ceremony (Eucharist) as “the actual partaking of Christ in person, hence literally”. Many Protestants consider it to be a metaphor or a mnemonic instead. Who is right? Firstly, let’s just acknowledge that people have died over this question. In the Reformation, at various […]
Holy Martyrs
The Passion of the Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicitas The Passion of the Holy Martyrs (“the Passion”) offers insights into the beliefs of the church at a very early time because it was recorded in 202-3AD.[1] A vital piece of historical church literature, this document provides key insight into a range of contemporaneous issues, from theology proper, […]
Read MoreThe Crusades – What motivated people to “Take the Cross”?
This is a research essay. It may be a bit boring to read through, so I’ll blog about it separately, later. Abstract The study of motivations of the crusaders represents not only an interesting subject, but one which has arguably affected the modern world’s tensions between Islam and the West, Islam and Christianity, and Judaism […]
Read MoreHow many churches are there?
Why are there so many denominations in the Christian faith? What’s the difference? Does it matter? I was wonderfully confronted by the living God in a little Anglican church, and came to faith. Since that time I have been quite involved in a Salvation Army church, a Churches of Christ church, a Pentecostal church, and a church that […]
Finding the Widow’s Coin
Hiding the Treasure The best way to hide spiritual gems: surround them with an intellectual feast. In his article, “Walter Wink on Jesus“, Wink provides clear, precise teaching on issues that are commonly misunderstood. He does such a fantastic job in his teaching that the interested reader is at risk of missingthe most profound assertion […]
Chat Room
The End of an Era: Chat Room is to close The Chat Room at 241 Brisbane St, a drop-in centre serving three meals a week, closes down at the end of May 2012. I wrote this poem as an experiment. It contains my reflection on the Chat Room at what that community has shown me. […]
Read MoreThe Salvation Army and the Sacraments
Is the Salvation Army a Church? Originally, no. The Salvation Army originally denied that it was a church (“we are not professing to be a church” – Catherine Booth, War Cry, 2 January 1883). It came in for criticism because for a long time it did not enter into the debates between Christian denominations concerning the “Sacraments” […]
Roman Catholic Decree on Ecumenism: “Unitatis Redintegratio”
The Roman Catholic Church… a Decree on Ecumenism… Really? In the 1960’s, the Roman Catholic church made a big effort in an attempt to begin to reverse the 400-year rift between herself and the Protestant churches, even acknowledging that there was fault on both sides. She made a range of statements demonstrating that she understood […]
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- If it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you – Matt 12:28
“Struggling with Sin” is not “normal”. Don’t settle for it.
Why would a preacher say that it’s ‘normal’ to be struggling with sin, when the Bible says that it isn’t? Several times recently I have heard a similar message from different preachers, essentially: we should anticipate an ongoing struggle with sin, or various kinds of disillusionment in our faith, or times of feeling that God […]
- May 19, 2012
- / Category Commentary, Sin
- / Posted By Kevin Bennett
- / No Comments.
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