Comments by the leader of the Scottish Christian Party on the secular, scientific, political and ecclesiastical scene and the application of Christianity to personal and public life.
Jesus teaches about worshipping God in vain: 'in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men' Mk 7:7. Vain worship is empty worship, devoid of proper content, but this is not the emphasis of the Greek word used here, which points to the 'fruitless activity' of such worship. It points to …
Continue reading Vain worship of God and a mark of effective Christianity
The kingdom of heaven is not the same as the kingdom of God, as some preachers and commentators erronously assert. The kingdom of heaven is that kingdom on God’s earth in which heaven is interested, which heaven promotes, with Christ as its King. It is that spiritual kingdom on earth which acts as the portal …
The People's Bible was an initiative to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the publishing of the King James Version of the Bible by re-writing it nationally using the technology of digital pens and ipads. The project journeyed through most of Britain to give the public the opportunity to write two verses of the Bible each, …
I had a bad tumble last night - the same day as Elizabeth took delivery of our new tumble drier at Ebenezer! At least I was not hung out to dry. During my next Street Pastor shift in Hilton, just as the night was finishing, we returned to base through a play area to engage …
In his first epistle to the Corinthians Paul deals with some congregational issues and in 1Cor 14:35 he says about wives: "if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home, because it is a shame for women to speak in the church." This strongly suggests that husbands were asking questions in congregations …
Continue reading Questions and answers in church and congregational life
It is very common to hear people speak about church courts. However Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Synods and General Assemblies become church courts for specific cases. This legal terminology is now so common that people fail to see that ecclesiastical assemblies are for the mutual support and oversight of the people of God. It is no …
"Self-examination is asking oneself the right questions and following them through until one arrives at the right answers." Bias We are biassed in our own favour, so we must call in the help of heaven by prayer and ask God "Examine me, O Lord, and test me; purify the motives of my conscience and my …
I have decided to begin an online theological dictionary with definitions of biblical and theological terms. It will probably include and develop into short articles on these and other themes. Much confusion is created in Christian fellowship meetings by failure to define one's terms. Thus people speak at cross-purposes and confusion develops instead of edification …
Following today's morning session with the trainee Tain Street Pastors, in the afternoon the Inverness Street Pastors prepared for a new initiative which is a first of its kind in the UK. We have been asked by various bodies to begin day time shifts in Inverness. This is testimony to the good work and welcome …
I have just the attended another Street Pastor training day today. In the morning we met with a group of new trainees who hope to launch Street Pastors in Tain shortly, and who had come to Inverness for training. It may be of interest to note some questions that Street Pastors encounter in their first …
Continue reading Street Pastors in Tain and early experiences
Donald's Thoughts 