I have often complained about the poor quality of debate in public discussion and also among Christians. My forth-coming publication about the Book of Job draws attention to this perennial, long-standing human failure. Intelligent, informed debate is essential for progress and community cohesion. As long as the Presbyterian church is unable to debate properly or …
Tag: Presbyterianism
Christian funerals
The nature of funeral services in the Scottish Highlands is changing. I have attended countless funerals in my lifetime, and last winter has taken its toll upon a significant number of people that I knew. Witnessing these funerals I draw attention to the subtle changes that are taking place. Instead of seeking God's blessing upon …
Church courts or helpers?
In Presbyterianism it is common to hear of church assemblies being described as church courts. Why? This terminology promotes legalistic thinking, and this is too commonly found in dealing with cases of conscience or cases of discipline. This legal thinking needs to be balanced with the biblical teaching about office-bearers in the Church of Christ: …
The biblical view about denominations
"I am the Vine. You are the branches," said the Lord Jesus Christ. John 15:5. So why are people trying to join different branches of Christ's church into one branch? Whoever thought that a vine or a tree should have only one branch? Yet this has been the unwieldy vision of the ecumenical movement, which …
