I want to share a story with you that emphasises the importance of understanding Jesus’ Jewish context when speaking to your Jewish friends about Him.
I recently met with an elderly Jewish woman whose daughter was being baptised and she wanted to understand why. “How could she?” she asked me as I sat down. “How could she give up on her identity like that? I could never do that!”
The role and place of religion in the education system in Northern Ireland is currently under scrutiny in light of a case currently being considered by the UK Supreme Court – the case of JR87.
The case centres on a child who attended a primary school in Northern Ireland with a Christian ethos. When the child in question started repeating a prayer at home before eating, one that she had learnt at school, and began asking questions about God and religion, her parents voiced their concerns to the school, namely that the education that their daughter was receiving did not conform with their own religious or philosophical convictions.
Consider this quotation: “If we are overcome by laziness and negligence and let ourselves be taken up with wicked behaviour and silly conversations, or if we get involved in worldly concerns and unnecessary preoccupations, the result will be as if a kind of weed had sprung up, which will impose harmful labour on our heart.”
Wicked behaviour and silly conversations? I wrote beside it, TikTok. Or YouTube Shorts, which is my particular failing. Worldly concerns and unnecessary preoccupations, yes, that’s it exactly. And the writer has diagnosed exactly what it does to me: harmful labour on my heart, making it so much harder to concentrate on – well, anything, let alone uplifting and godly things.
When our children were young, we would occasionally give in to pressure and take them to McDonald’s for a Happy Meal. If you’ve never experienced this delight, it’s a portion of highly processed child-pleasing food, in a cheerful-looking box, which includes a freebie plastic toy.
The burgers, of course, are gone in minutes; and in my experience, the toys last very little longer. Not just because they’re rubbish, but because the children know that they’re rubbish. I don’t remember any of my children ever caring about a Happy Meal toy longer than the duration of the car ride home. If something is given away for free, everyone – even a child – knows that it’s worthless.
The woman was horrified… “You wouldn’t dare do that”. She was a member in the church and had just been told by the pastor that she was likely to be disciplined for her continual sinful behaviour, unless she repented. What had she done? Adultery? Theft? Abuse? No – she was a persistent gossip, continually slandering people within and beyond the congregation.
It’s not often you hear of that – and yet the Bible speaks strongly about the sin of gossip. “Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.” (Prov.26 v20 NIV) “You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbour: I am the Lord” (Lev.19v16 ESV). “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it” (James 4v11NIV).
What do I mean by that? Well, we have AI apps and websites as personal assistants at our fingertips online; medical advancements where premature babies 21 weeks old can survive; and the ability to attend an online business meeting while still in our slippers!
There is a great danger lurking in many evangelical churches, yet the danger is so subtle that many cannot see what has crept in.
At first glance, we may not notice the issues amongst the churches; on paper, we have everything correct – we’ve got our statements on human sexuality, gender, the role of women, the fundamentals of the Faith, and even the gospel. Perhaps we even subscribe to one of the historic confessions.
Please note: This article contains references to abuse.
The dismaying - and predictable - revelation in the saga surrounding Chris Brain of Sheffield's Nine O'Clock Service, is that it could have been avoided. His theological education supervisor insisted that he was not fit for ministry and should not be ordained.
I am in my (very) early seventies. I have just written a book about following Jesus in your fifties and sixties. “A bit late,” you say. Sure. But it is the book I wish someone had given me 20 years ago.
In most of the world and much of human history, these decades are the close of life. But in rich western societies with good diet and healthcare, they are—for many—an “in between” stage, between the vigour of middle age and the frailty of our older years. I think of it as “the afternoon of life”.
Over the summer, British politics usually takes a break. Parliament is in recess, MPs are working in their constituencies, and hopefully taking a holiday to recharge.
This is a good time to reflect on the past year. Looking at the state of the world and the UK, it is frankly a challenge to remain optimistic.
Over recent weeks, there has been growing public discussion about the concerning tech phenomenon known as “AI psychosis”.
The non-clinical term refers to the rising numbers of people who are being led into fixed false beliefs by AI large language models such as ChatGPT or Grok.
Earlier this month, pastor and bestselling author John Mark Comer posted that a new book was a “knockout blow” to Penal Substitutionary Atonement or, as theology nerds would say it, “PSA.”
I asked Thaddeus Williams, assistant professor of Systematic Theology at Biola University to weigh in on this historic Christian doctrine that is proclaimed throughout Scripture and was championed by several Church fathers, writes John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Centre for Christian Worldview.
One of President Trump’s flaws is that he too often gets things the wrong way round. To put it simply, he seems to want the cake but doesn’t like baking. In fact, he doesn’t really do baking at all, but still expects a perfect cake! And that flaw is all too obvious in this week’s frantic round out activity regarding Ukraine and Russia.
So we’ve had the first meeting between the presidents of the USA and Russia in over four years – but it was arranged at the drop of a hat. Normally months of preparation would precede such an important meeting. First, diplomatic envoys from both sides would thrash out all the details, leaving the two presidents merely to dot the "I"s and cross the "T"s and do the flashy PR bit with the handshakes and the press conference. But before the Alaska summit last Friday, there was no time for preparation.
"Nothing is stronger than the will of the human heart"... Words famously spoken by Indian novelist Nalini Singh.
It might not surprise you to learn that Singh is a romance writer and a "paranormal" one at that. Cue the gags about "Men being from Mars and Women from Venus". (Sometimes these jokes just write themselves.)
I often think about a scene in The Simpsons Movie (2007): a terrifying dome comes down on Springfield, and its citizens are thrown into disarray.
In the panic, we see the church and Moe’s Bar emptying out, the congregants and the drinkers standing outside the respective buildings, looking up in horror.
Prior to his election to a second presidency in November 2024, Donald Trump repeatedly claimed that he would easily and swiftly bring the conflict to an end.
“It’s a very easy negotiation to take place. I will have it solved within one day, a peace between them”, he said as early as March 2023, in a Fox News Interview with Sean Hannity.
My journey as a Christian woman began in Pakistan, where my husband and I dedicated our lives to empowering the downtrodden Christian community through education and skill-building initiatives.
Our mission was driven by the conclusion that education is a powerful tool for transformation and Christian women deserve better chances, rather than being limited to menial-jobs and facing abuse because of their faith.
It's a nerve-wracking time for those collecting exam results in the UK.
This summer, my son will return to school to collect his GCSE results. The outcome will shape the next few years of my son's life. Will he pursue A levels? College? An apprenticeship? The decision is now beyond his control.
Comment
Wait... Jesus was Jewish?
I want to share a story with you that emphasises the importance of understanding Jesus’ Jewish context when speaking to your Jewish friends about Him.
I recently met with an elderly Jewish woman whose daughter was being baptised and she wanted to understand why. “How could she?” she asked me as I sat down. “How could she give up on her identity like that? I could never do that!”
The case of JR87: Faith in education?
The role and place of religion in the education system in Northern Ireland is currently under scrutiny in light of a case currently being considered by the UK Supreme Court – the case of JR87.
The case centres on a child who attended a primary school in Northern Ireland with a Christian ethos. When the child in question started repeating a prayer at home before eating, one that she had learnt at school, and began asking questions about God and religion, her parents voiced their concerns to the school, namely that the education that their daughter was receiving did not conform with their own religious or philosophical convictions.
The problem of distraction
Consider this quotation: “If we are overcome by laziness and negligence and let ourselves be taken up with wicked behaviour and silly conversations, or if we get involved in worldly concerns and unnecessary preoccupations, the result will be as if a kind of weed had sprung up, which will impose harmful labour on our heart.”
Wicked behaviour and silly conversations? I wrote beside it, TikTok. Or YouTube Shorts, which is my particular failing. Worldly concerns and unnecessary preoccupations, yes, that’s it exactly. And the writer has diagnosed exactly what it does to me: harmful labour on my heart, making it so much harder to concentrate on – well, anything, let alone uplifting and godly things.
Happy Meal sacraments?
When our children were young, we would occasionally give in to pressure and take them to McDonald’s for a Happy Meal. If you’ve never experienced this delight, it’s a portion of highly processed child-pleasing food, in a cheerful-looking box, which includes a freebie plastic toy.
The burgers, of course, are gone in minutes; and in my experience, the toys last very little longer. Not just because they’re rubbish, but because the children know that they’re rubbish. I don’t remember any of my children ever caring about a Happy Meal toy longer than the duration of the car ride home. If something is given away for free, everyone – even a child – knows that it’s worthless.
Gossip is no longer just local – it’s global
The woman was horrified… “You wouldn’t dare do that”. She was a member in the church and had just been told by the pastor that she was likely to be disciplined for her continual sinful behaviour, unless she repented. What had she done? Adultery? Theft? Abuse? No – she was a persistent gossip, continually slandering people within and beyond the congregation.
It’s not often you hear of that – and yet the Bible speaks strongly about the sin of gossip. “Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.” (Prov.26 v20 NIV) “You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbour: I am the Lord” (Lev.19v16 ESV). “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it” (James 4v11NIV).
Evangelism in an age of distraction
Isn’t it an interesting time to be alive?
What do I mean by that? Well, we have AI apps and websites as personal assistants at our fingertips online; medical advancements where premature babies 21 weeks old can survive; and the ability to attend an online business meeting while still in our slippers!
Has your church 'lost' the gospel?
There is a great danger lurking in many evangelical churches, yet the danger is so subtle that many cannot see what has crept in.
At first glance, we may not notice the issues amongst the churches; on paper, we have everything correct – we’ve got our statements on human sexuality, gender, the role of women, the fundamentals of the Faith, and even the gospel. Perhaps we even subscribe to one of the historic confessions.
The cost of ignoring leadership concerns
Please note: This article contains references to abuse.
The dismaying - and predictable - revelation in the saga surrounding Chris Brain of Sheffield's Nine O'Clock Service, is that it could have been avoided. His theological education supervisor insisted that he was not fit for ministry and should not be ordained.
Christopher Ash: how can we age well?
I am in my (very) early seventies. I have just written a book about following Jesus in your fifties and sixties. “A bit late,” you say. Sure. But it is the book I wish someone had given me 20 years ago.
In most of the world and much of human history, these decades are the close of life. But in rich western societies with good diet and healthcare, they are—for many—an “in between” stage, between the vigour of middle age and the frailty of our older years. I think of it as “the afternoon of life”.
Our Redeemer doesn't wear a rosette
Over the summer, British politics usually takes a break. Parliament is in recess, MPs are working in their constituencies, and hopefully taking a holiday to recharge.
This is a good time to reflect on the past year. Looking at the state of the world and the UK, it is frankly a challenge to remain optimistic.
'AI psychosis' - a dark spiritual reality?
Over recent weeks, there has been growing public discussion about the concerning tech phenomenon known as “AI psychosis”.
The non-clinical term refers to the rising numbers of people who are being led into fixed false beliefs by AI large language models such as ChatGPT or Grok.
Is penal substitutionary atonement 'knocked out'?
Earlier this month, pastor and bestselling author John Mark Comer posted that a new book was a “knockout blow” to Penal Substitutionary Atonement or, as theology nerds would say it, “PSA.”
I asked Thaddeus Williams, assistant professor of Systematic Theology at Biola University to weigh in on this historic Christian doctrine that is proclaimed throughout Scripture and was championed by several Church fathers, writes John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Centre for Christian Worldview.
Why does Trump get things back to front?
One of President Trump’s flaws is that he too often gets things the wrong way round. To put it simply, he seems to want the cake but doesn’t like baking. In fact, he doesn’t really do baking at all, but still expects a perfect cake! And that flaw is all too obvious in this week’s frantic round out activity regarding Ukraine and Russia.
So we’ve had the first meeting between the presidents of the USA and Russia in over four years – but it was arranged at the drop of a hat. Normally months of preparation would precede such an important meeting. First, diplomatic envoys from both sides would thrash out all the details, leaving the two presidents merely to dot the "I"s and cross the "T"s and do the flashy PR bit with the handshakes and the press conference. But before the Alaska summit last Friday, there was no time for preparation.
Spurgeon's: 'Not tragedy, but consequence'
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10v12).
Spurgeon’s College has announced its closure - and though the building may be sold or left to crumble, the foundation was long abandoned.
Is your church 'toxic' to a child's faith?
Is church "toxic" to a child's faith?
In answer to my own question, I believe "the church" can sometimes be toxic to a child's faith.
Our hearts, pornography, and a love story
"Nothing is stronger than the will of the human heart"... Words famously spoken by Indian novelist Nalini Singh.
It might not surprise you to learn that Singh is a romance writer and a "paranormal" one at that. Cue the gags about "Men being from Mars and Women from Venus". (Sometimes these jokes just write themselves.)
The Simpsons, Sally Rooney and spirituality
I often think about a scene in The Simpsons Movie (2007): a terrifying dome comes down on Springfield, and its citizens are thrown into disarray.
In the panic, we see the church and Moe’s Bar emptying out, the congregants and the drinkers standing outside the respective buildings, looking up in horror.
Ukraine: There is no safety in appeasement
Prior to his election to a second presidency in November 2024, Donald Trump repeatedly claimed that he would easily and swiftly bring the conflict to an end.
“It’s a very easy negotiation to take place. I will have it solved within one day, a peace between them”, he said as early as March 2023, in a Fox News Interview with Sean Hannity.
Experiencing God's love through God's people
My journey as a Christian woman began in Pakistan, where my husband and I dedicated our lives to empowering the downtrodden Christian community through education and skill-building initiatives.
Our mission was driven by the conclusion that education is a powerful tool for transformation and Christian women deserve better chances, rather than being limited to menial-jobs and facing abuse because of their faith.
Results day: Resting in the God who holds tomorrow
It's a nerve-wracking time for those collecting exam results in the UK.
This summer, my son will return to school to collect his GCSE results. The outcome will shape the next few years of my son's life. Will he pursue A levels? College? An apprenticeship? The decision is now beyond his control.