"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" Jesus, Matthew's Gospel 7:3 If I blog with sparkling wit and powerful prose, but do not have love, I am just a blaring horn or a screech on a blackboard. If I… Continue reading The blog in my own eye
Category: Ethics & Christian living
The Polar(isation) Express: reflections on Tommy Robinson’s carol concert
My article on Tommy Robinson’s Christmas carol service created all kinds of responses. BBC Radio 4 and The Times Radio got in touch and the organisation Stand Up to Racism asked me to speak at their counter-demo on Whitehall held just before Tommy Robinson’s event. Criticism But as with any widely read article, I also… Continue reading The Polar(isation) Express: reflections on Tommy Robinson’s carol concert
Tommy Robinson’s Carol Concert: show naïve grace or face the ugly truth?
The far-right campaigner, Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, claims to have become a Christian in prison. And this Saturday, his Unite the Kingdom movement has organised a Christmas Carol service in Whitehall. John Clifton wrote thoughtful article about Robinson's challenge to the church about how it engages men. He did not approve of Robinson… Continue reading Tommy Robinson’s Carol Concert: show naïve grace or face the ugly truth?
The gift of honest feedback – by Tim Ling
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com Advent is a season of waiting, a time when the Church pauses, not in passive resignation, but in hopeful expectation. We wait for light to break into darkness, for God’s Word to take flesh, for the world to be remade. Advent teaches us that waiting is not wasted time;… Continue reading The gift of honest feedback – by Tim Ling
Responding to Tommy Robinson’s Christmas rally – by Al Barrett
Revd Dr Al Barrett is Vicar of Hodge Hill Church, Birmingham. He has contributed to a new resource: Joy for All: Supporting churches to respond to the co-option of Christmas by the far right The sharp end People in my parish find themselves on the sharp end of national politics. Our area has been economically… Continue reading Responding to Tommy Robinson’s Christmas rally – by Al Barrett
Ruinous empathy or radical candour? – by Anna Price
We have a growing cultural problem that affects the world of work and much of the church: we don’t like being challenged by others. Few of us want to go back to the days of aggressive bosses, stiff upper lips and stoicism. But the current cultural climate can mean we lack confidence in the vital… Continue reading Ruinous empathy or radical candour? – by Anna Price
The judgement on all religion
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com For many years, a devout Muslim man lived next door to us with his family. He was just about the best neighbour that it is possible to have: friendly, kind and generous. He was very tolerant of the noise our young children made and cheerfully threw back the many balls… Continue reading The judgement on all religion
Exclusive Inclusivity – by Tobias Mayer
Photo by Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto on Pexels.com "It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences" Audre Lorde, September 1979 I like inclusivity. Who doesn't? But I've started noticing an interesting paradox in inclusive spaces. By going to any length to include the traditionally excluded… Continue reading Exclusive Inclusivity – by Tobias Mayer
Discipleship takes Practice: the best Christian course I have ever done
Earlier this year, I reviewed the book Practicing the Way and said it was the best book I read in 2024. And earlier this summer, as a church we completed the 8 week Practicing the Way course. In many ways the course has been even more significant experience as I have travelled on this journey… Continue reading Discipleship takes Practice: the best Christian course I have ever done
On what is faith based: escape or divine renovation?
I find many contemporary Christian songs difficult. I find them too fluffy, too sentimental, too individualistic, too escapist. They may contain words of radical aspiration but do not seem drawn from the genuine struggles of life. Rarely do our songs reflect scripture’s lament for the injustices and brokenness of the world. My friend Andy Flannagan… Continue reading On what is faith based: escape or divine renovation?
Grace + Truth 