The current emphasis on the Gospel's power to renew cities and culture is a great positive. Nevertheless, it provokes an important question. Let us assume city and cultural renewal gets traction – which, increasingly, it will – the next question is how do we determine the ethics and laws by which a renewed and just society should be governed. As a Christian you would … [Read more...]
Religious Freedom: A Proposed Bill of Rights for Australia
After vigorous national debate, Australia, in September 2017, voted in a plebiscite to legalise Same-Sex Marriage. This highlighted the issue of competing rights and the potential suppression of freedom of speech and religion. As a result the Prime Minister established a Religious Freedom Review served by an expert panel of academics and clergy. Lifemessenger has submitted the … [Read more...]
A Biblical View of Church and State: Implications for Same-Sex Marriage
In understanding the biblical role of church and state – and its implications for homosexuality – we must first understand the transformational nature of God’s kingdom. Christ is not only “head over all things to the church” (Eph 1:22), but also “ruler of kings on earth” (Rev 1:5). Through Christ’s resurrection and ascension he has been given “all authority in heaven and on … [Read more...]
The Economic Crisis of Ethics
A New Economics In the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, with economic instability on the one hand and environmental impoverishment on the other, ‘economics’ has moved to the centre of public concern, calling its present outlook into question.[1] This outlook is exemplified in the film Wall Street, flaunting the unabashed stance that ethics are unnecessary for economic … [Read more...]
Tithing & The New Covenant
Introduction Throughout the history of the Christian movement the approach to Tithing (one tenth) has been far from unanimous, demonstrating many diverse views (see below). To find clarity on this contended and sensitive issue we must go back to some foundational theological and interpretative principles to discover, with some measure of accuracy, what the Bible … [Read more...]
