Author Archives: Simon

What Would It Take to Make You Believe?

Posted on 16/02/2012 | 2 Comments

Photo Credit: © nyul – Fotolia.com

You are likely to have used the phrase “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Or maybe you have said something like “I will believe in God, if he showed himself to me.” Others might say “I will believe in God if he makes my sofa disappear and re-appear before my eyes.” We all want evidence, whether it’s seeing something is true with our own eyes, or being presented with extraordinary and irrefutable events which we think will make us believe what we previously didn’t. We would believe it, if only someone could prove it.

Yes. Of course you would. The problem is, Jesus disagrees with you. You wouldn’t believe. You would rationalise it, find a believable explanation for it, or Continue reading →

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Posted in Bible Reflection, Fallen & Flawed

Tagged Gospel of Luke, Hades, Hell, Lazarus

The Perspicuity of Scripture

Posted on 06/02/2012 | 2 Comments

Photo Credit: © Amy Walters – Fotolia

Perspicuous. adj. 1. Clearly expressed or presented; easy to understand. 2. Ex- pressing oneself clearly and effectively.

Pastor Martin has just begun a series on the book of Revelation. The book is notoriously difficult to understand, interpret, and apply. As one witty saying goes; ”A famous book in which St. John the Divine concealed all that he knew. The revealing is done by the commentators, who know nothing.” Everyone seems to agree that it’s tough to work out.

Continue reading →

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Posted in Bible Reflection, Doctrine

Tagged perspicuity, revelation

Redefining Marriage is Unbiblical

Posted on 28/01/2012 | 9 Comments

Photo Credit: © Amy Walters – Fotolia.com

The fracas around the impending redefinition of marriage in Australia has been escalating at a great rate. A private members bill is likely to be put forward in federal parliament in the near future redefining the definition of marriage. If passed, it will mean that marriage will include the legal union of two people of the same sex. Martin has already addressed the issue briefly on this blog with regards to the obvious cascade effect towards polygamous marriage. This is a very important issue, with wide-ranging consequences, and one which the Church should be deeply concerned about, and more actively combating. Distressingly, much of the church is silent on the issue, and many churches are pro-gay marriage (including 10 Baptist Union of Victoria churches).

Further controversy was caused by Margaret Court, recently. She is a former tennis champion, and church pastor, who spoke out against homosexual marriage and has copped a barrage of criticism. Obviously everyone is allowed Continue reading →

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Posted in Contemporary Issues, Theology

Tagged ephesians 5, gay, homosexuality, law, marriage

God Ever New

Posted on 15/01/2012 | Leave a comment

Gregory of Nyssa compares God to a spring:

“As you came near the spring you would marvel, seeing that the water was endless, as it constantly gushed up and poured forth. Yet you could never say that you had seen all the water. How could you see what was still hidden in the bosom of the earth? Hence no matter how long you might stay at the spring you would always be beginning to see the water. For the water never stops flowing, and it is always beginning to bubble up again. It is the same with one who fixes his gaze on the infinite beauty of God. It is constantly being discovered anew, and it is always seen as something new and strange in comparison with what the mind has already understood. And as God continues to reveal himself, man continues to wonder; and he never exhausts his desire to see more, since what he is waiting for is always more magnificent, more divine, than all that he has already seen.”

HT: Peter Leithart

Photo Credit: Icon of St. Gregory of Nyssa
(14th century fresco, Chora Church, Istanbul)