Should I pursue prosecution of crimes against me?
So you are the victim of a crime. It may be publicly known or it may be unknown to most. It may be recent or it may be the silent horror of a broken childhood. The perpetrator may be someone you know well or someone you never met before the crime took place. The crime may have been theft, physical abuse, sexual in nature, or any number of other issues. And now you're facing the
Literary views on death from a Christian worldview
This week I have a question for the hive mind. What is the most powerful description of death that you have read in literature from a Christian perspective? I would love for you to post the quote or the reference in the comment section. Here’s a few to get the discussion started. C.S. Lewis wrote about death for his character Reepicheep in the Chronicles of Narnia: This,” said Reepicheep, “is where I go on alone.”
Pastor or pope?
The subject at hand is extremely controversial and the ramifications of such an article will no doubt cause me open contempt, disrespect and possibly the label of 'heretic.' In spite of the inevitable results, I feel it necessary, yea vital, to present readers with a Biblical perspective on the role and authority of the Pastor. It is in no way my desire to cause division or discord among the brethren in this land but to
When were you saved?
It is a common question that we often ask new people that we meet. It is an important question, because it reflects our eternal destiny. However, the answer to this question is not as straight forward as we may think. Consider these five possible and yet correct answers to the question "When were you saved"? 1) We were saved before time began God is sovereign and all-powerful. Even before he created time and man, he
Can I take a Christian to court?
Living in a broken world is messy. It would be nice if everyone saw eye-to-eye and problems were easily resolved. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Even believers sometimes find themselves in bitter disputes with other believers. This raises the question: Is it ok to take another believer to court? A common answer to this question is a straightforward—and sometimes emphatic—no. The Apostle Paul addressed the question directly in 1 Corinthians 6:1-8. 1 Corinthians 6
Feeling rejected?
Charles Simeon is a fascinating character study in rejection. Six years before Captain Cook sailed into Port Jackson, Simeon was an unloved English minister placed in a church where the people wanted someone else and they weren’t afraid to show it. Over a ten year period the congregation tried various things including locking the doors of the church and the family pews. His evangelical heart never resounded with his established audience and there is evidence
“But he’s not a Baptist”
Conservative Fundamentalism and the Independent Baptist Movement of our day has formulated a set of unwritten rules and regulations which men and women are expected to abide by. These have no Biblical foundation, or have been 'tweaked' and misinterpreted to promote these extra-biblical or non-Biblical standards. Although these 'laws,' for the most part, cannot be found in a formalised document, anyone who attends or has ever been a part of a conservative IB church is
The perils of democracy
Following on from the discussion regarding the Perils of capitalism, it is worth considering the assumption that democracy is the best form of earthly government. As Australia undergoes Rudd vs. Gillard Part II, many voters are asking the question, "When I voted Rudd in 2007, why did I get Gillard?" Or "When I voted for Gillard in 2010, why might I get Rudd?" The reality is that pure democracy of the masses is not accurate.
Lost for words
Have you ever found yourself at that point where you're lost for words? You've tried everything, you've done everything you can, and things still turn out bad? What should we do when we come to that place? Here are some meditations. 1) Move to the centre. When we can't explain it and we can't make sense of it, that's the time to move to the core of our faith. It's easy to be distracted by
Christian vs. state schools
With the Federal Government currently reviewing the funding arrangements for public and private schools—through the Gonski report—the debate about the merits of various school options is sure to continue. Some of the most animated and controversial comments on Facebook and at church are around the merits of parents' choice of schooling. As a Christian parent who educates his children in a private Christian school, you can expect that I am support of organised Christian education.