Controversy
Why I Don’t Call Myself Reformed
For over 20 years I have been exposed the the Calvin vs. Arminian debate (also known as Reformed vs Free Will theology). I have been in churches on both sides of the debate and let me describe it in one word – UGLY. It can make Labour vs Liberal party politics look tame. Sadly, the [...]
Love a Good Sex Scandal?
The rise of sex scandals in modern life is amazing and sad. While nothing shocks me anymore, I continue to be disappointed by the number of leaders – Christian and non-Christian – who lack integrity at high levels. It does seem that absolute power corrupts, and that corruption usually takes the form of sexual abuse. [...]
Ministry: A Career or a Call?
My ‘day job’ is all about ‘career development’. I help people achieve their goals by analyzing their skills, providing development training and arranging targeted job interviews. It is satisfying to help people grow their careers, achieve their objectives and increase their pay packets. Ministry: A Career? However, I have previously spent time in paid pastoral [...]
Is Health Insurance A Good Investment?
A young couple in a church I attended in the US, claimed they did not need health insurance. ”God would provide for their needs”, they firmly believed. When they had a significant car accident and incurred hefty medical bills, the church asked its parishioners (who had been regularly paying their own insurance) to take special offerings [...]
Is Gay Marriage an Attack on the Gospel?
Let me put my cards on the table about marriage: I don’t believe the government should have any say in marriage. Marriage is a religious ceremony established by God. So to be consistent, why should atheists even bother getting married? To be further consistent, why should Christian couples bother getting a marriage certificate issued by the [...]
Christian Activism
Grassroots rebellion is growing. Whether it be the Tea Party, the Arab Springs, London Riots, or the Occupy Wall Street movements, we know one thing. The masses are angry. At one level, the common man has a right to be angry at our political and corporate leaders. James tells us that it is the [...]
Complement, Coworker or Doormat?
Three main streams of thought on the roles of men and women exist within the church. They are briefly defined below. For a fuller explanation, click here. Complementarianism (n.) The belief that men and women have complementary roles and responsibilities in marriage and the church. Leadership roles are prescribed for men; support roles are [...]
What is the future for Israel?
Today, September 23rd 2011, is the day that Palestine will ask the United Nations to vote on its statehood. I have no idea whether this request will be passed or vetoed; and whether its aftermath will be peaceful or violent. However, 63 years after the establishment of modern Israel, its existence continues to [...]
On discussion in the blogosphere
My goal in today’s post is twofold. First, I want to explain some of the issues that I wrestle with in handling such discussions. Second, I would like to get your feedback on how things are handled so I can deal with these sorts of situations more effectively in the future. The goal of this [...]
Controversy… what is it good for?
I’ve missed my last two biweekly posts due to work commitments and a seasonal bout with the flu but I am happy to be back with the Infocus team on a weekly basis till the end of the session. From the basis of page views and comments – it looks like many people have been [...]
Australian, Baptist, Independent … And Calvinist?
I don’t think of myself as a Calvinist, although I greatly benefit from Reformed theology. This was not always my experience. As a child, I once heard this horrified whisper in church concerning a newcomer: “I know about him. He’s a Calvinist!” — as if the man were an alien or baddie. In another church, [...]
God & His Word
I’ve appreciated Jason’s ongoing series on the King James Version and I marvel at how the ensuing discussion alternates between a fight between kung-fu masters and schoolboys in a fight. I would like to posit the following as my contribution to this series: Almost five hundred years ago, a boat set sail from the Continent [...]
