The cost of family breakdown

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The emotional costs of family breakdown are immense.

But the financial costs of family breakdown, are, in their own way, no less shocking.

The estimated cost is £51 billion.

The biggest contributor (about 45%) to this figure is the support that the state provides to lone parent families by way of tax credits, housing benefits and lone parent benefits.

Second comes the cost of care of children and adults.  It is estimated that ’98 per cent of the cost of looking after children in care, two thirds of the cost of social services for looking after children at home, and 5-10 per cent of the cost of care services for the elderly, [may be attributed] to family breakdown.’…

Gay marriage and the ‘trajectory’ of Scripture

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The ‘trajectory’ argument, briefly, is that there are certain practices (such as slavery) that are permitted in Scripture, but Scripture itself sows the seeds of their eventual abolition.  Conversely, there are certain practices (such as same-sex relations) that are forbidden in Scripture, but Scripture itself sows the seeds of their acceptance.

The Bishop of Bangor in the Church in Wales, Andy John, has invoked such a trajectory argument in his support of marriage for homosexual couples.…

Spiritual authority of women in the Bible

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In Across the Spectrum: Issues in Evangelical Theology, Greg Boyd and Paul Eddy list a number of instances where (notwithstanding the prohibition of texts such as 1 Timothy 2:11-14) we find women exercising spiritual authority over (or alongside) men:

1. …God incorporated the songs and statements of a number of women into his inspired authoritative Scripture (e.g., Exod. 15:21; Judges 5; Luke 1:46–55)…
2. Women were given the same command to “rule” over creation as were men.…

Who lay down his sweet head?

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‘Fury as primary school tells pupils to say “Baby Boy Jesus” instead of “Lord Jesus” while singing Away In A Manger so that pupils of all faiths can join in.’ (Daily Mail)

‘School slammed by Christians after changing “Lord Jesus” lyric in Away in a Manger.’ (Daily Star)

‘Parents Outraged as London School Downgrades Jesus from “Lord” in “Away in a Manger”‘ (CBN News)

These were some of the headlines a few weeks ago, when it was learned that children at Whitehall Primary School in Chingford, Essex, had been told by their head teacher to not to sing ‘little Lord Jesus’, but rather, ‘baby boy Jesus’.…

Civil partnerships

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The Civil Partnership Act 2004 provided for the legal recognition of homosexual relationships in the UK.  The Act came into force in December 2005.  Over the next seven years a total of 60,454 were formed.

In 2018 (the most recent year for which statistics are available at the time of writing) 956 civil partnerships were formed in England and Wales.  In the same year, there were 927 civil partnership dissolutions. (Source)

The Act extended all the legal rights and privileges of marriage to homosexual couples. …

How Jesus affirmed women

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Aída Besançon Spencer identified four broad categories.

First, Jesus’ conversations with women indicate his esteem for them. Jesus openly conversed with women despite the ancient practice of discouraging men from speaking with women in public. For example, in John’s Gospel Jesus has a deep theological discussion with a man, Nicodemus (Jn 3:1–21), followed by a deep theological discussion with a woman, a Samaritan, at Jacob’s well (Jn 4:4–42). She is the first person to whom Jesus discloses that he is the Messiah (Jn 4:25–26), and she becomes an evangelist to her people (Jn 4:28–29, 39–42).…

What are biblical masculinity and femininity?

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According to John Piper,

‘At the heart of mature masculinity is a sense of benevolent responsibility to lead, provide for, and protect women in ways appropriate to a man’s differing relationships.’

and,

‘At the heart of mature femininity is a freeing disposition to affirm, receive, and nurture strength and leadership from worthy men in ways appropriate to a woman’s differing relationships.’

It is not difficult to find fault with these definitions.  The most obvious complaint would be that they focus too much on the single issue of leadership. …

1 Corinthians 14:34 – ‘Women should be silent in the churches’

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1 Corinthians 14:33-35 – ‘As in all the churches of the saints, 14:34 the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says. 14:35 If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.’

Writing in the Women’s Bible Commentary (3rd ed.)…

Decision-making by husbands and wives

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George W. Knight III considers how decision-making might be approached in a complementarian household.

‘The delicate balance that must be maintained is that of the husband’s leadership in a situation in which two equal image bearers of God are involved.

‘The husband must honor his wife 1 Peter 3:7, “grant her honor as a fellow-heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered,” NASB) and respect her views, opinions, feelings, and contributions about the issue at hand, and he must do so in a way that takes into account both his and her strengths and weaknesses (1 Peter 3:8, “husbands … be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner”).…

John 1:6-8, 19-34 – Witness to the Wonder – sermon notes

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Witness to the Wonder, John 1:6-8, 19-34

How can we witness to the wonder of Christ(mas)?

Learn from John the Baptist, and his witness to Jesus Christ.

1. He knew who he was

‘He was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light’ Jn 1:8.

(a) ‘I am not…’, vv19-21

  • The Christ, v20; Lk 3:15; Acts 19; 2nd century; Mandaeans (Iraq)
  • Elijah, v21a, Mal 4:5f. (Jesus described John as an Elijah-type figure Lk 1:17; Mt 11:13-15; 17:12f, but not in the sense they meant it)
  • The Prophet, v21b, Deut 18:15-18

(b) ‘I am…’, vv22-28

  • A voice, v23; Isa 40:3
  • A baptizer, v26
  • A servant, v27 – in fact, less than a servant!
…