The Biblical basis for women’s ministry
The Bishop of Durham, Dr N.T. Wright, has an interesting paper on this subject. You can read it here. I’m not necessarily persuaded by everything that Dr Wright says, but it’s well worth reading.…
Category Archives: Church
John Wesley on ‘a catholic spirit’
Here’s a fine comment from John Wesley on Christian unity. By ‘catholic spirit’, Wesley meant what we today would call an ‘inclusive’ attitude towards Christians of other ‘traditions’. By ‘speculative latitudinarianism’, he meant doctrinal indifference. So to the quote:-
…‘A catholic spirit is not speculative latitudinarianism. It is not an indifference to all opinions: this is the spawn of hell, not the offspring of heaven. This unsettledness of thought, this being “driven to and fro, and tossed about with every wind of doctrine,” is a great curse, not a blessing; an irreconcilable enemy, not a friend, to true catholicism.
Baptism
Baptism is one of those areas of Christian doctrine and practice where sincere believers can differ. Baptists will not agree with everything that follows, but I hope we won’t fall out about it.
1. Meaning
One of two sacraments: an outward sign of inward grace (Augustine). The outward sign of baptism speaks especially of the inward work of the Holy Spirit.
(a) A symbol of the Gospel. Baptism with water is a symbolic washing, or cleansing. …
Acts 2:41-47 – The marks of a Spirit-filled church – sermon notes
What a tragedy that precious truths of God are trampled over by the muddy boots of controversy! What it means to be a Spirit-filled church is just such a truth. But here we see:-
1. The church’s inward life
(a) ‘They continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.’
The Spirit-filled church is a well-instructed church.
Mt 28:20 ‘…teaching them to observe all things whatsover I have commanded you.’
Jn 8:31 ‘If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.’…
Pentecostalism, baptism in the Spirit and revival
The 20th century was marked by the emergence of a cluster of renewal movements, including the Pentecostal movement, the neo-Pentecostal (charismatic) movement, and the restorationist (‘house-church’) movement. There is no denying the vitality and appeal of these developments. But an important question presents itself to the student of revivals. It is this: To what extent, if at all, do these movements represent genuine revivals?
A number of popular writers on revival stride unswervingly through this issue by including accounts of such-like movements among their descriptions of revival, without pausing to consider whether this is a proper thing to do. …
Problems associated with revival
Having considered in general terms the mixture of good and evil which occurs in revival, we must now mention some of the specific problems which may occur. These are of two kinds: extrinsic and intrinsic.
A. Extrinsic problems
Some of the problems which can occur in connection with revivals are extrinsic, in that they originate in those who are outside the stream of revival and who are opposers of the work.
1. The first problem to be noted is that of resistance to change. …
The kingdom of God
The kingdom defined
Graham Goldsworthy (Gospel and Kingdom, 47) has defined the kingdom of God as:
(a) God’s people
(b) in God’s place
(c) under God’s rule
Examples:
(a) Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
(b) The descendents of the patriarchs in the promised land
(c) The Israelites in the united kingdom of David and Solomon
Along similar lines, we may say that the kingdom of God (or similar expression) is God’s kingly rule manifested in the lives of his people, Lk 17:21, effecting their salvation, Mar 10:28-29. …
The miraculous element in revival (II)
A descriptive account has been given in the previous chapter of occurrences which seem to contain a miraculous element. Now the question arises as to what construction we should put on these occurrences. In other words, are we warranted to accept that there may be a miraculous element in revival?
As previously noted, those who have a ‘reformed’ understanding of revival have tended to view with suspicion allegedly miraculous phenomena. But there have been others who have taken a more positive approach. …
The miraculous element in revival (I)
One aspect of revival which merits careful study is the miraculous element. Now it is perfectly correct to say that any true revival is of supernatural origin, just as is regeneration of an individual soul. But this part of our subject still needs consideration from a more limited point of view. The question still to be answered is, To what extent, if any, do miracles occur in revivals?
This is a question on which evangelical theology has not yet articulated a clear, unambiguous answer. …
Physical and emotional phenomena of revival
One feature which is often notable in revival, is the presence of a variety of unusual phenomena, ranging from physical prostrations to (real or apparent) prophesyings, visions, and miraculous healings.
Now some scholars have been content merely to note the occurrence of these phenomena without making any serious attempt at biblical or theological explanation. Ronald Knox, for example, at the end of a long book which catalogues many extraordinary features associated with revivals and ‘fringe’ movements, clumps them all together, and says:-
How to explain these phenomena – Camisard child-prophecy, or Jansenist convulsions, or Methodist swoonings, or Irvingite glossolaly – is a question that need not detain us.…