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
Read morePerhaps 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
Read moreToday 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
Read moreOne Sunday morning, a young girl had seen a baby baptised at her church. Later the same day, her father saw her re-enacting the baptism with one of her dolls – water and all. He heard his daughter solemnly intone, “In the name of the Father, the Son and into the hole ‘e goes.” [If
Read moreMany of us will have enjoyed last weekend’s commemoration of the 70th anniversary of VE Day, marking the end of the second world war in Europe on 8th May 1945 (VE standing for ‘Victory in Europe’). Some of those reading this may even be able to remember VE Day itself. If so, they can no
Read moreYes, I know that’s not the snappiest of titles, but it seemed to capture what I wanted to say – or, rather, what the prophet Isaiah wanted to say to the defeated, despondent and despairing exiles of Judah. To make matters worse, they were guilty; they were responsible for the sins that had led God
Read moreYou may have seen the three-part television documentary presented by Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, exploring how Christianity has shaped western attitudes to sex, gender and sexuality. In one programme, he repeated the often heard statement that while Jesus didn’t say much about sex, and nothing at all about homosexuality, he had a lot...
Read moreDo you tend to think of our church as a Hospital for Sinners or a Museum for Saints? Of course, you probably haven’t thought of this – or any church – in exactly those words. Nevertheless, they are a good way to get us thinking about what church is and should be. A museum is
Read moreIt won’t surprise you to learn that I’m not going to tell you which candidate to vote for! In some elections in some countries, there may be a very obvious choice for Christians, but I don’t think that’s the case in this General Election. Nevertheless, there are some principles that may usefully guide us as
Read moreThese past few days of sunshine have been glorious, haven’t they? If you’ve been stuck inside with no hope of getting out before the day is done it will have been torture, but for many of us the onset of spring marks a real change in outlook. There are fabulous things about each of the
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