When I look back at some of the dumb stuff I’ve said and done in my adult life, it’s tempting to wince. I’m not just talking about selfish choices, but attitudes I held for years, jokes I thought were harmless but which were, in fact, hurtful, moments where I let people I love down, and far, far more. The list is endless, but I don’t mean this in a self-critical way. To put it simply, we are all fools, and... Read more
The common Evangelical interpretation of Job is that God is responsible for our sufferings, consciously allowing Satan to persecute us. That same common interpretation, taught in churches all over the world, states that Job was a righteous man who refused to blame God for his loss, and was commended by the Lord for his piety. In the introductory post on the book of Job, I argued that this is the absolute opposite of what the text shows us, and... Read more
The purpose of this article is to expose the devastating harm in the common, Evangelical interpretation of Job, and to free those ensnared by it. It can be a daunting thing to reassess foundational beliefs established in childhood, for fear that the whole structure might come crashing down, and yet that is exactly what is required to have a mature and authentic adult faith. Some of the beliefs that were loaded on my shoulders in the church of my... Read more
In the church of my youth, I was told that Jesus was crucified in my place – that I should have hung there instead, and then still gone to Hell afterwards. It’s taken many years to examine and finally reject the doctrine of ‘penal substitution’, but the result of doing so is that the cross of Christ (and what happened there) has become even more central to my faith. I cling to it more tightly, am even more grateful for... Read more
I don’t usually write about personal times of prayer but want to share an experience that encouraged me deeply, in the hope it will do the same for others. Yesterday, when communing with the Lord, he showed me ‘a picture’ – not a full, 3D, surround-sound-enhanced affair, but a clear impression left on the heart, replete with accompanying meaning and divine emotion. I saw a sea of radiant, joyful faces – the full, beaming joy of people who are... Read more
It is strange to think of ‘giving glory’ to God, when all glory is his in the first place. The glory of God is divine light, issuing from the Father rather than from us, so why does the Bible talk about God being ‘glorified’ in the church? For me, the meaning is clear – God is glorified when all the stuff blocking that divine light is moved out the way and He is seen for who he is. Heb... Read more
In the first part of this series, we explored Jesus’ perfect unity with the Father – when he prayed on the cross, forgiving the entire crowd, he reflected the Father’s heart. We looked at the ways in which Jesus reframed Old Covenant teachings with his words and deeds, empowering us to do the same. Most of all, we looked at the consistent, singular, and eternally merciful nature of God. In this second instalment, I want to consider the implications... Read more
More than any other aspect of life, the Church’s teaching on marriage is delivered and enforced like Hebrew Law – you are either righteous or unrighteous, depending on whether your life fits the broadly accepted pattern. Even long-standing, committed, cohabiting couples are judged as ‘living in sin’ and refused leadership or ministry roles in many congregations, and a divorcee might be sacked as an elder, even if their ex-partner was the one who pushed for divorce. I find the lack... Read more
What do you understand of Jesus’ plea to the Father, during his crucifixion? Was it a serious request for compassion or perhaps just a passing emotion? Was it a plea to an angry Father to suspend his wrath? Was Jehovah about to launch spears of lightning from the Heavens, piercing the villains who dared to crucify his son? The faith of my upbringing emphasised a clear distinction between the Father and Son, the former being the ultimate judge, while Jesus... Read more
I had the tremendous privilege of growing up without a cell phone. In 1970s and 80s Britain, there were only 3 – 5 channels on the television, and as a child, I played out in the streets with the other neighbourhood kids, making up games, exploring, and riding our bikes. My brothers and I attended a vibrant youth group at our local church, and digital distraction was barely a footnote in our lives. As an adult, I embraced digital... Read more
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