There are real oxymorons – "Unitarian Christians" and "Arian Christians" – and there are what ought to be oxymorons but are only too real – flawed Christians and sinful Christians. Is it any surprise? Biblical students and students of human nature should not be surprised. So why is it a great surprise that there are …
Category: Behaviour
Correcting the miscalling of Demas
It is time to rehabilitate Demas, the companion of the apostle Paul, from the slander than judges him a turncoat or even worse, an apostate. The King James Version translates 2Tim 4:10: 'For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia' and other …
Reluctant biblical conformity
The sexual revolution is unravelling. The battle of the sexes is intensifying. The Sun newspaper’s exclusive that Michael Fallon lost his job because of lewd suggestions to Andrea Leadsom, vigorously denied by him, will have the usual secular comment without any significant Christian comment. This is another stage in the sexual revolution. For several decades …
Scotland needs a Reformer
The main message from the 500th anniversary of the European Reformation is that Scotland needs a Reformer. We have plenty of theologians and preachers, but no reformer. Scotland's Reformer was John Knox but we have fallen upon such backsliding times that we need a new one, but at present Scotland has no reformer. A reformer …
Martin Luther – Europe’s Reformer
Today we remember the 500th anniversary of the trigger that began the European Protestant Reformation, when Professor Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses for discussion to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther nailing the 95 Theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, which triggers the European Reformation There …
Dr Nicola Sturgeon?
Nicola Sturgeon claims in today's First Minister's Question: "it is the easiest thing in the world to get up and diagnose the problem." Really? Most medical doctors would like to know how, and I am sure medical students would like to know how to shorten their course of studies. Rather, it is easy to see …
The cost of abandoning sin
There is a literal cost when society abandons the concept of sin. Many people will find that it reduces their bank balance. The state fines people when they break its laws. On the other hand, God calls the breaking of His law 'sin' and He gives sinners a verbal warning. Fines reduce one's bank balance; …
Secular repentance
Repentance means 'a change of mind'. It is commonly associated with Christian theology, which majors on the need for 'repentance unto life'. However, it is possible to change one's mind from bad to worse – in other words, there are different forms of repentance. Christian teaching on metanoia, the Greek word that the New Testament uses …
Becoming dependent upon God
Human beings are dependent upon God, whether they like it or not, and slowly the human family is moving in the direction of acknowledging it. The more it speeds up, the better. As society has become more integrated, we have become dependent upon each other. It began in the family and developed with education. Now …
Blaming the devil
The devil is blamed for many things, and justly so. Harvey Weinstein is the latest celebrity to do so. Contradicting allegations of sexual harassments against him, the award-winning film producer Harvey Weinstein said: "I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologise for …
Donald's Thoughts 