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Tim Challies has just posted the first actual book review of Rob Bell's controversial Love Wins.
He concludes: If Love Wins accurately represents Bell’s views on heaven and hell (at least if our understanding of the book accurately represents his views on heaven and hell), it reveals him as a proponent of a kind of Christian Universalism.
Thorough review. Worth clicking though.
Do you know what, and how, your child is being taught about sex?
The Christian Institute have released a study on what materials primary schools are using in sex eduction: some of its findings might surprise you. If you're a parent, it's worth reading it and praying about it; if you're not a parent, it's worth telling those you know who are.
This post isn't a covert campaign for home schooling, nor a knee-jerk negative reaction to the whole issue of children being educated about sex outside the home. Some of the best, wisest parents I know take very different approaches in how to bring their children up and how and where to educate them.
But this is the kind of thing that we all too often accept unthinkingly rather than prayerfully, simply because everyone around us does. And "sons [and daughters!] are a heritage from the LORD" (Psalm 127 v 3); a gift from Him for us to have the joy of bringing up and telling about Him.
So though five Christian parents might well come to five different conclusions about primary school sex education, hopefully helpful information like this Christian Institute study will make sure that each of those conclusions are the result of careful thought and great prayer.
A church in Wiltshire has discoverd that an extremely rare first edition King James Bible had been sitting on a shelf gathering dust for the last 150 years.
The BBC reported that it is one of fewer than 200 original printings of the KJV known to exist.
Church council member Geoff Proctor told the BBC that the most important thing about the discovery was that it was meant to be a living working book for people to live by.
"Well I think what it's going to do is enable us to talk about the Bible," he said.
"Because in a secular world it's seen as an important document, it will actually bring the opportunities to us to go and discuss it in more detail.
"When we took it for evaluation to the curator of a museum, one of the first things he said was whatever you do you must display this so that people can read the word.
"That stuck with me—the fact that it's what it says rather than what it is," he said.
It struck me how this story is repeated in millions of households in the UK and beyond. It's surprising how many houses you go in have a Bible on a shelf somewhere. But it's not a lucky charm, and it's no use if it's not read.
And I'm not talking about non-Christian homes…
That's one of the messages of a new BBC Two series, "The Bible's buried secrets". It's presented by a new TV presence, Dr Francesca Stavrakopoulou, who's a lecturer at Exeter University, and has been talked about in the media today.
Obviously, millions will watch this when it's aired, and we'll blog a Bible-centred response to its precise claims as and when they're made. But just to pick up on what's been in the news today:
The God of the Bible, Yahweh, had a wife, Asherah, who was part of a "divine pair" with him.
How strange that the Bible doesn’t mention this! If Yahweh and Asherah were a couple, they clearly really didn't get on, since Yahweh told his people to cut down their Asherah poles which they gathered around to praise this alternative "god" (see for instance Judges 6 v 25), and He was "provoked to anger" when His people worshipped Asherah (1 Kings 14 v 15).
God's people were called to worship, love and serve only Him (Exodus 20 v 3). Why? Because He is the true God, the real God, the only God who can deliver on His promises (Psalm 115 v 1-11).
"Eve has been very unfairly maligned as the troublesome wife who brought about the Fall."
If this is historical, it's not unfair: it's fact. And of course Adam certainly doesn't get away with it either: God holds him to account for his failure to man up and warn his wife off listening to the serpent. The Bible doesn't present one as any more or less guilty than the other: both rebel against God. Both receive curses because of it. This view has more to do with medieval Catholic teaching than what the Bible actually says.
"As an academic, I think you leave faith at the door… I don't think you can use the Bible as a reliable historical source."
The second half of that statement is a statement of opinion. Dr Stavrakopoulou is of the belief that the Bible is not historical. But that in itself is a faith position. It means that when she reads the Bible she has already decided the events didn't really happen in history—that's a belief, just as much as deciding the events did happen in history. It's a fact that needs to be pointed out as often as possible by Christians: everyone has faith, and you can't leave it at the door when you read the Bible.
One more quick thing: the comments under The Telegraph article on this are mainly angry that an atheist is able to talk about the Bible on TV. Actually, I'm not sure that's a problem in and of itself, if:
Hopefully the series will include those three things!
We're just in the process of coming up with a title for the newest of our Good Book Guide series on Jonah.
It needs to be short. It needs to be catchy, so people notice and are intrigued. It needs to be easily understandable both in the UK, the US and in Australia.
And I'm a bit stuck.
So, how would you sum up the message of the book of Jonah in a short and catchy sentence? Comments below please!
This is a great spoof video, imagining that a Starbucks branch decided to model itself on a church. It's hilarious, but it's also slightly uncomfortable as it makes us see our church with a newcomer's eyes. I have to admit, there's a chance that I might sometimes sound or act just a little bit like some of these people, without really realising it.
Of course the "tragedy" is that that couple just wanted some coffee. And the coffee branch stopped them getting it, and put them off trying again. If you substitute "to know Christ" for "some coffee", it raises the stakes a bit…
I've been trying to help the children at church understand that Jesus is King, and what it means for him to be King of our hearts, time, friendships and even our pocket money, what it looks like to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" (Matthew 6 v 33).
It seems they have been listening.
Last Sunday, when it got to that point in the service when the collection bag came round, I put in my usual smattering of coins. I have a standing order to the church bank account, so my weekly cash offering is just a bit on top.
But moments later, two small hands dove into my purse. Two little girls removed a fistful of cash and put it into the velvet pouch we use to collect money for “Jesus’ work”.
“Do you think that’s enough now?” I whispered, hoping to avoid alerting the rest of the congregation to my emerging fiscal crisis. But no, yet more of my money was removed and given to Jesus. Why? Because he is King over all we have.
My stomach knotted. I wanted to chastise them for taking my cash. I needed it to buy cake and to hop on and off buses so I could avoid walking short distances in the cold.
But as the pound coins tumbled, the penny started to drop. I had fallen into the trap of thinking that because I give regularly to the church, I’ve done my bit. I had subconsciously assumed that the rest of my cash could be spent on whatever I liked without any reference to God. Despite teaching on it, I hadn’t really grasped that Jesus is King over everything in my purse.
I did the maths when I got home. The remaining money is more than adequate for my needs. But the missing cash, the stuff that would have gone on meaningless trivia, is now going to gospel-work. And on reflection, that’s pretty exciting (even more exciting than cake!)
A great truth to ease you into your week.
After all the theological stuff we’ve been posting recently, I thought you deserved a game (actually, this isn't purely a game, and it is theological—but I hope you'll play along anyway!). Here are some instructions.
First, pick a number. Any number. Well, any number between 6 and 23. Sorted?
Now look at your diary (or your TV guide) and see what you are going to be doing the next time the clock hits that number. (I’m sure you’ve worked it out but just in case you haven’t, you need to be thinking 24 hour clock… ). Done that?
Lastly, ask yourself this question: “What difference is my faith in Jesus going to make to how I approach that activity?”
Whether it’s watching the news, collecting the kids, enduring a commute, chairing a meeting, enjoying a meal out with friends or being home alone, your faith should make a difference… so why not take a short moment to think through what that difference should be and prepare yourself to act in a distinctively Christ-centred way today?
Enjoy!
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3 v 17
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