I have often wondered why certain communities, churches and groups are so resistant to betterment, progress and change. Why is it that while some communities flourish with fresh ideas, are progressive, innovative and work together for the good of their areas, others seem totally moribund – incapable of implementing even the slightest improvement or advance. Continue Reading
Can a true Christian be a member of the Church of Scotland – given that, in recently years, droves of evangelicals have left a denomination they no longer consider to stand for biblical truth? Continue Reading
Is there any point in praying? ‘Of course there is’ most will answer – and to doubt it would lead to calls of ‘heretic’ – at least in most evangelical and charismatic circles! But I am not so sure. Not sure in this sense – that the relevance of prayer, never mind its effectiveness in not unconditional. Hold on to that for a moment and we will come back to it.
Some years ago a revivalist from another culture visited a village on the Isle of Skye where I live. He whipped up the local christians to meet in the early hours of the morning for revival prayer meetings. Most of those attending went to work after these early morning vigils – while the revivalist returned to his bed. Eventually the man moved on with no visibly change having taken place. I remember asking a close christian friend and working man who had attended, what the meetings had done for him. He replied – “Made me very tired”. Continue Reading
You don’t have to go very far sometimes to find them. And they are not where you might expect – so don’t go looking in the pubs, clubs or houses of ill repute – they would not be found dead in such places!
That’s what makes them so dangerous – because on the outside they look respectable, religious, pious and plausible. But inside they are rotten, filthy, corrupt and deceitful. They are agents of Satan – representatives of his hellish empire. And they are out to make you and I into their sons and daughters – children of hell. Continue Reading
The very term “Outsider” speaks of exclusion. To be considered and treated as an outsider is very uncomfortable. I suppose we have all experienced this to some degree or another – I know I have – especially, sad to say, in religious circles. Continue Reading