Before the age of social media, accusations of heresy were far less common among believers. Don’t get me wrong, some were eager to point accusing fingers at their brothers and sisters but doing so came at a cost, because those brothers and sisters were probably part of the same local church or group of churches. Social media has afforded billions of people the opportunity to make lazy, consequence-free assertions about people of their own faith, and boy does it... Read more
The word mysticism is bandied around rather too much, in my opinion. Mysticism is not a term that can mean whatever a person wants it to, but rather has a distinct and important definition that inevitably expresses itself as spiritual practice. The Oxford dictionary defines it with particular clarity: Belief that union with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or the spiritual apprehension of knowledge inaccessible to the intellect, may be attained through contemplation and self-surrender. ... Read more
How do you apply Philippians 4:8? Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Personally, I struggle to make sense of how fellow believers apply this verse. Years ago, I remember asking a Christian friend why he didn’t want to join me and others on a trip to the cinema, and his answer was to quote... Read more
Imagine with me for a moment that Jesus won’t return in your lifetime. Take some time to really let that sink in, imagining the unfolding of your life without the return of Christ. How does that make you feel? What have you lost? What has changed? What have you gained? Since the ascension of Christ over 2000 years ago, believers throughout the ages have been convinced he was about to return. The unavoidable truth is that all... Read more
I don’t usually post two days in a row, but this is just a short appeal in the light of the terrible conflict unfolding in Israel and Palestine. This struggle has been ongoing since 1948, and both sides have reasons to feel aggrieved. I won’t go into the details of the conflict itself, as doing so can lead to all kinds of misunderstanding and division, but I do want to express concern about some of the reaction already emerging in... Read more
A conspiracy theory is a dangerous thing, convincing ordinary people that a huge number of bad faith actors are secretly working together to push an agenda on us for nefarious purposes. Necessarily, channels that push these theories breed cynicism and distrust, dividing society into those who are ‘in the know’ and those who aren’t. One of the most worrying trends of the post-truth age is that conspiracy theories have entered the mainstream. What used to be spoken of in... Read more
As a person who’s had to struggle with acute mental health issues, I’m intimately familiar with the interaction of faith and mental health, for good or for ill. I want to be clear on the most important matter – God is only good, all the time. He is a God of love, and all unfiltered interaction with him can only be a wonderful thing, but the filters we apply to that interaction can confuse, reduce, and even pervert the impact... Read more
Passion for one’s own faith is a wonderful thing, but it can also become a trap – the closing of the mind to wisdom found in other faiths. For me, it’s important to keep the outer boundaries of faith permeable, because there is no way that sincere seekers across the globe are ignored by God, whatever name they call Him or Her. Their prayers will be answered, their sincere desire for divine connection rewarded, and I do not want to... Read more
Anyone who’s read many of my articles will be conscious that I sometimes struggle with mental health issues. They were the bane of my young life and to some degree remain a hurdle today. In this article, I’d like to explore whether or not the Gospel of Peace promises freedom to a person who has to navigate such difficulties, and if so, how is that achieved? First of all, I should say that it would be very strange for... Read more
The Bible presents men with an encyclopaedia of role models to be inspired by. The roll call of faith in Hebrews 11 showcases the faith of 14 men (not counting ‘the prophets’) but only 3 women, one of whom is unnamed in the text (Moses’ parents are commended as a unit rather than as individuals), another was a prostitute, and the third, Abraham’s wife Sarah, is briefly referred to in long paragraphs about her husband. Ironically, the reference is only... Read more
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