The leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, was asked in an interview whether welfare spending was unchristian and she replied: “In early Christian times there was no state or welfare so I think that you can argue that, actually. The Christian tradition is about communities and families and charity, not about compulsory taxation in… Continue reading Is Kemi Badenoch right: is the welfare system “unchristian”? – by Krish Kandiah
Category: Theology
Roots & fruits: why so many homelessness charities were set up by churches
Clockwise: collecting the gleanings from the harvest, the good samaritan, the prodigal son In a recent article, I wrote about the old, battered bible I bought in 1993, the first year I started working with people who were homeless. It was an anecdotal and subjective piece focussed on how this book has been a companion… Continue reading Roots & fruits: why so many homelessness charities were set up by churches
‘A light to my path’: my battered, 32 year old working companion
In 1993, I was in my second year studying social work at Hull University. I had just read Ron Sider’s book Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger which relentlessly emphasises how much poverty and social injustice are core themes in the bible. It gave me further reason to question why many of the Christians… Continue reading ‘A light to my path’: my battered, 32 year old working companion
Living off the fumes of Faith (in the City)
Forty years ago, the Church of England published the Faith in the City report which focussed on the plight of the inner cities and urban poverty in the UK. The report hit the headlines, generated significant debate and sold 50,000 copies. A key reason was because it angered the conservative government, with one member of the… Continue reading Living off the fumes of Faith (in the City)
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
Untruthful cultures eat safeguarding for breakfast
A review of Safeguarding the Institution: how the culture of the Church of England facilitates abuse by Stephen Kuhrt (2025) Leadership guru Peter Drucker famously said: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” What Drucker meant was that whatever values an organisation articulates, or whatever plans, policies or aspirations it has, will always be trumped by its… Continue reading Untruthful cultures eat safeguarding for breakfast
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?
Prophet or loss? Counting the cost of speaking truth – by Stephen Kuhrt
Amos lived in the 8th century BC in a village called Tekoa. He was called to proclaim God’s Word to the political and religious elites of the time. This is a fictional imagining of the personal cost involved...and what this means for speaking up for truth today. Tension Amos was late home that evening from… Continue reading Prophet or loss? Counting the cost of speaking truth – by Stephen Kuhrt
Losing faith in a silent God
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com By Tony Anthony I was listening to BBC Radio 2 earlier today, with Tina Daheley sitting in for Jeremy Vine, and the conversation turned to the experience of losing faith (starting at 1.05). The phone lines were open, and one by one, people shared stories. These weren’t shallow grievances. They… Continue reading Losing faith in a silent God
Let’s get the flock out of here
Photo by Pille Kirsi on Pexels.com I went to a seminar a few years ago led by Mike Frost where he outlined four functions of church: Discipleship: learning and growing in following Jesus Worship: praise and prayer to God, participating in the sacraments Fellowship: building relationships within the church Mission: going out to share the gospel in words and actions The… Continue reading Let’s get the flock out of here
Grace + Truth 