Hardships to Make You Holy
First published 8 October 2012 I have taken recently to reading books by Christians past and present, who suffer and suffered in some way. I guess it’s because I consider myself to be suffering with my illness and the constant battle to stay employed. I know I’m not suffering to the same degree as the…
God is the Way He is
First published 7 September 2012 This post is now incorporated with 22 other similar ‘reflections’ in my book, Facing Cancer with Faith. If we are created by God – and not the other way around – why do we feel like we can challenge, and take exception to, aspects of His character and His work?…
Faith for Diagnosis and Cure
First published 31 August 2012 This post is now incorporated with 22 other similar ‘reflections’ in my book, Facing Cancer with Faith. Very recently the doctors diagnosed that the non-Hodgkins lymphoma, from which I have been free for two years, has returned. As at this point I have some mild symptoms, but nothing that yet…
The Risk of Offending People (Whose Rules Rule 12)
First published 2 April 2012 Should we try to avoid offending people? This is the last part of this series and I would be surprised if I haven’t offended anyone by what I’ve been saying over the past few months. As I’ve said throughout the series, talking about morality can be unpopular in a culture…
Loving By Talking About Sin (Whose Rules Rule 11)
First published 19 March 2012 Last time I was trying, poorly in my own judgment, to contrast the outcomes of non-religious morality (selfishness and oppression) with Christian morality (love, charity and care for everyone not matter how sinful). I really wanted to show that for a Christian to say that something is wrong, even while…
Love Is… (Whose Rules Rule 10)
First published 5 March 2012 I’ve been talking for what seems like a long time about morality, sin and the consequences of it. To be honest it was riots in the summer of 2011 that partly sparked the thoughts. Or rather it was the reaction of the respectable middle class that made me think. We…
All May Come! All May be Saved! (Whose Rules Rule 9)
First published 20 February 2012 We learnt last time that the equality of human beings within a Christian worldview involves not only being created as special by God, in His image, but certain other things that are universally true of human beings. As human beings we are universally tainted by sin – we have a…
How to Enjoy Christmas
First published 23 December 2011 I was walking back from the office to where my car was parked in a side road one evening a couple of weeks ago. It was 5:15pm, cold, dark and crisp. It was early December, and one of the local residents had newly decorated the outside of their house with…
What Makes Something Wrong? (Whose Rules Rule 2)
First published 10 October 2011 I made a big assertion in my last article. I said that the non-religious people of the West basically see themselves as the final authority when it comes to deciding what is right and wrong. I see that as the primary reason for conflict between Christian moral standards and the…
What is Sin? (Whose Rules Rule 1)
First published 28 September 2011 When non-religious people talk with Christians about morality they normally do so with the belief that there is common ground that can form the basis of discussion. But there ultimately isn’t! In terms of the ultimate principles that underpin and guide what we feel is right and wrong, we are…