The world is rightly talking about Michael Curry’s wedding sermon. It was a ‘tour-de-force’. He is very good at preaching. But it also offers us all an insight into the dramatic difference between the two kinds of Christianity that are at odds with each other in the Anglican Communion.
We will call them for the moment, ‘Christianity-max’, and ‘Christianity-lite’. Continue reading “Michael Curry & the Royal Wedding. A star-turn offers the world ‘Christianity-lite’.”
The responses to the news of Billy Graham’s death have been varied, as one might have expected. They stretch from the kind:
“Thank you Billy.
For Everything.
See you on the other side,
Michael W.”
To the septic, as in that of the Teen vogue columnist Lauren Duca:
“The big news today is that Billy Graham was still alive this whole time. Anyway, have fun in hell, bitch.”
Archbishop Cranmer, (aka Adrian Hilton) penned a brief but admiring note in which he concentrated on what he perceived as the shift in Graham’s soteriology, and an implicit interrogation of his role as an evangelist.
“I used to believe that pagans in far countries were lost if they did not have the gospel of Christ preached to them,” (Dr Graham) said in a 1978 interview with McCall’s magazine. “I no longer believe that,” he added, calmly and assuredly. Continue reading “A study in the contrast between Political and Pneumatic Christianity in the light of the life and death of Billy Graham.”
I’m beginning with an apology this week. I am going to be a little personal and, if not defend myself (which I know I should not do,) at least try to explain myself a little, in case it might be helpful. Continue reading “‘Sex’ is no consolation for the loss of free speech, and the capacity to test & discover the Truth with each other.”
It has always seemed strange to me that once the gay community won their freedom to marry in civil law, as well having gained legal protection in civil partnerships, they should move onto the offensive and attack the rights of Christian clergy and churches to retain their own distinctive definition of marriage.
After all, the gay community understandably pitched their case to the rest of society saying, “look this is how we are – these are our values- please respect us and allow the law to reflect and affirm our life styles and convictions. Continue reading “Gay marriage and conscience clauses (published in Jersey where conscience clauses are being debated)”
“ ’Play Nicely on Twitter’-
Advice from the Last Archbishop of Canterbury?”
Schisms and Anathemas
In 1054, the way you expressed the deepest disapproval for a theological opponent was to slap a bull of excommunication on his altar. Continue reading “HERESY AND EQUALITY IN THE CHURCH © Gavin Ashenden”