Thought for the Week

Fight or Flight?

How can hell be both “outer darkness” and “eternal fire”, very hot and very cold? It is Jesus himself who tells us it is both (e.g. Matthew 25:30, 41, ESV) – and presumably he knows what he’s talking about? To be honest, it’s something I’d simply accepted without really asking why it should be so.

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You fool!

I guess most of us have ready definitions for many things, including theological things, things like sin. So, for example, we might say: sin is rebellion; sin is lawbreaking; sin is falling short; and so on. How often, I wonder, do we think of sin as folly? Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be is

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What’s in a word?

You may know this famous exchange between Humpty Dumpty and Alice in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass: “When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make...

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I don’t want to be a burden

Have you heard someone say something like that, as you watch them struggle on, gently but firmly turning down every offer of help? “Oh, I couldn’t do that. I wouldn’t want to be a burden on anyone.” Perhaps you have even found yourself saying the same? There are people only too willing to help: to

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Christianity and cultural diversity

For some time I have been interested in the fact that Christianity is more widespread throughout the world than any other faith or religion. We only have to think of religions such as Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism to realise that they tend to be located in particular parts of the world – although not exclusively

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Who are we?

Two recent news stories offer a fascinating window into our modern confusion over human identity: just who are we? In the first story, former Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner has a sex change and then re-introduces himself (herself?) as Caitlyn Jenner. Having struggled for years with his/her gender identity, (s)he is greeted as a hero for

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Would you like to come to church?

Aren’t you thrilled when you get the chance to speak to someone about Jesus – and not merely about church activities (or even a building project) or Christian morality – but about Jesus himself?  And we can feel bad when we realise we’ve missed a good opportunity to do so, or if we know it’s

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I am Nebuchadnezzar

Those who follow Explore Bible notes have been reading the book of Daniel this week. In chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon sets up a massive image of gold and requires everyone to fall down and worship it. There is a high take-up for this activity, thanks to the ‘encouragement’ of being thrown into a

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Controlitas

Perhaps Controlitas would be a better name than Dignitas for the clinic in Switzerland where people go to be helped in killing themselves? Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Charles Moore comments insightfully on the recent case of Jeff Spector who sadly decided to end his life this way. He had an inoperable tumour near his

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An appendix or the heart?

Today is Trinity Sunday. For many, the idea of the Trinity is confusing, and even an embarrassment when it comes to understanding – let alone explaining or defending – what Christians believe. Wouldn’t it be better quietly to sideline the whole notion? Isn’t the Trinity a bit like the appendix in the human body; it’s

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