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BBC’s ‘The Ark’ – better than the cute animals version

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Last night, the BBC screened its 90-minute drama ‘The Ark’.

It was a re-telling, by Tony Jordan, of the celebrated biblical story of Noah (variations of which circulated in other ancient cultures).

Those who confuse the ‘traditional’ children’s version of this story with the biblical version complain that we don’t get to see the animals go into the ark.  I was surprised to see Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali being (mis?)quoted as seemingly objecting to the animals being ‘banned’ from the ark in this film.…

The church and the glory of God

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In relation to the church, the glory of God in Christ,

  1. is still seen and reflected by the church, 2 Cor 4:3-6
  2. is the glory of the new covenant, 2 Cor 3:7-11
  3. is shared both now, 1 Pet 4:14, and hereafter, Rom 8:18 by those who suffer with Christ
  4. is to be manifested by the church, as she witnesses to God, Rom 15:9, shows his deeds, Acts 4:21, practices holy living, 1 Cor 6:20, and honours Christ, Rom 16:27.
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Why preachers cannot ignore the New Perspective on Paul

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To talk of a ‘New Perspective on Paul’ (NPP) is to imply that there is an ‘Old Perspective’ that has now come under scrutiny.

It might be tempting to respond by saying, “A curse on both your houses! I shall ignore them both and simply read and preach the text itself.”

An understandable aim, no doubt, but one that would be unwise to attempt, and impossible to achieve.

Unwise to attempt, because we would then be elevating what we think the Holy Spirit is telling us about what God’s word means, above what others, possibly more insightful than us, think he has told them.…

The law in Romans

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According to Paul’s letter to the Romans, God’s law

  1. reveals sin, Rom 3:20.
  2. incites sin, Rom 5:20; 7:8.
  3. “law brings wrath” Rom 4:15.
  4. is provisional and temporary, Rom 7:1–3; 1 Cor 7:39.
  5. is “spiritual” and of divine origin, Rom 7:14.
  6. is fulfilled by the indwelling of the Spirit in believers Rom 8:4; Gal. 5:16.

See James Edwards: Romans (UBCS)…

Praying with right motives

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‘When we pray for things pertaining to this life, we must desire temporal things for spiritual ends; we must desire these things to be as helps in our journey to heaven. If we pray for health, it must be that we may improve this talent of health for God’s glory, and may be fitter for his service; if we pray for a competency of estate, it must be for a holy end, that we may be kept from the temptations which poverty usually exposes to, and that we may be in a better capacity to sow the golden seeds of charity, and relieve such as are in want.…

Idolatry today

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The word ‘idolatry’ has a remote, archaic, feel to it.  Ancient people, and primitive people, are idolatrous, aren’t they.  But us…?  The command ‘You shall have not other Gods before me’ (Exodus 20:3) seems to be quite irrelevant.

Tom Wright, in his recent book Surprised by Scripture, shows that idolatry is alive and well in our modern, supposedly secular, society.  The ancient gods are alive and kicking.

Today’s Western world hardly needs reminding about the place of Mammon, the worship of money, in our society.
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Toolbox for Skillful Shepherding

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Member Condition Spiritual Danger Proper Response Scriptural Support
Living fruitfully Failing to Continue Encourage; Praise 1 Thess 4:1; Phil 2:29
Lacking information Doctrinal Ignorance Teach; Instruct 1 Cor 12:1; 1 Thess 4:13; Acts 18:26
Needing to get moving Laziness; Neglect Exhort; Spur On; Urge Heb 5:11-12; 6:12; 10:24; 2 Cor 9:4-5
Suffering Trial Discouragement Comfort; Console 2 Cor 1:4; 7:6
Starting to Go Astray New Sin Pattern Warn; Correct; Admonish Titus 3:10; 1 Cor 4:14; Luke 9:54-55; Matt 16:23
Determined to Wander Habitual Sin Rebuke Rev 3:18-19; Titus 1:12-13; Gal 2:11
Stubborn Unrepentance Apostasy Excommunicate Matt 18:17; 1 Cor 5:5

Andrew M.…

The morality of the Song of Songs

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Historically, interpreters of the Song of Solomon have steered away from a ‘naturalistic’ interpretation towards an ‘allegorical’ approach.

There can be little doubt that this was in large measure due to what was seen as the objectionable morality of the Song, if it was to be understood primarily as a poetic account of human love.  What are we to make of the Song’s rather explicit sexuality?

Tom Gledhill, in his volume in the Bible Speaks Today series (IVP), discusses this with insight and sensitivity.…

Was Paul a Catholic?

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It is interesting to note that the New Perspective on Paul has flourished in the wake of the Holocaust and the onset of the ecumenical movement, and the development of closer ties between Roman Catholics and Protestants.

The link here is that the ‘old’ (Protestant, and especially Lutheran) perspective on Paul taught that both Judaism and Roman Catholicism were (and are) beset by legalism, and that Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith alone was needed to counter-act this.…