Multicultural Ministry Matters

The latest issue of Crucible is out! It's an on-line journal from the Australian Evangelical Alliance . The best article is an excellent piece by Jonathan Case on the implications of the Trinity for our piety . Case astutely hammers the vague spirituality which refuses to make any "dogmatic" assertions about God and Jesus - like the doctrine of the Trinity - and prefers to simply "follow Jesus". We can find this kind of spirituality among pietists, and in some of the emerging church community. It sounds very warm and friendly and inclusive. But it's actually the same as the old liberalism of Adolf Harnack (which is still held by contemporary liberals like John Spong). Such a piety cannot differentiate itself from Buddhism, Hinduism or Islam, all of which hold Jesus in high esteem. The Biblical passages that call us to worship Jesus necessarily lead to the doctrine of the Trinity. We cannot therefore rightly respond to the Biblical picture of Jesus - we cann...

Further to my mum being in the Sydney Alumni Magazine - she's now on page 15 of today's Sydney Morning Herald . And this article's also quite positive about her Christianity.

Many of you know my mum's interesting profession. She's a sexologist - she engages in the academic research of human sexuality. She leads an international research and teaching program in sexuality , which is currently one of Sydney University's most successful courses. She's involved in national and international sexology councils, like the Australian Society of Sex Educators Researchers and Therapist (" ASSERT "), the Society fort the Scientific Study of Sexuality (" SSSS ", pronounced "quad-S") and the World Association for Sexual Health (" WAS "). She's also an evangelical Christian. Mum & dad attend St John's Anglican church in Parramatta. Mum has spoken on sexuality at churches all over Sydney and country NSW. There's a double-page article on mum in the latest issue of the Sydney Alumni Magazine. It puts her Christianity a positive light. There's plenty of Christian books on sex, at both a popular and ...

In a previous post , I wondered how I'd go with the SPY mission to Henty, in country NSW; and how country folk would cope with an immigrant. Well, the response to the first is: I am such a city boy. Anyone surprised? No? Didn't think you would be. Henty was nice to visit, but I couldn't live there. I got too easily bored & restless. And when we visited Albury one afternoon, I was disappointed with how small the botanical gardens were - until I was reminded that they actually pretty good for a country town. And when we went to an agricultural show on Saturday, I couldn't tell my sheep from my goats, or the llamas from the alpacas - much to the mirth of the locals... Even in Sydney, I'm happier in the city than in the suburbs. I really enjoyed living in Newtown, 'coz it was inner city Sydney. I loved the crowds, the noise, the bustle. I loved the fact that I could jump on a bus and be in the CBD in ten mins, and circular quay in fifteen. I loved the fact tha...

Over at But Now Blog , Pete Orr is blogging about Bultmann's demythology . Interesting read.

The SPY Henty mission was a roaring success. There were about 40 children who came to the program. I was very pleased with our youth group - they presented the skits & talks really well, there was a positive, energetic vibe that held the kid's attention really well. And I was very impressed with the the young people from Henty church, too - they did the songs and games really well. And Henty church had prepared a terrific backdrop for the skits and talk: the whole church had been transformed into a jungle! The various elements of the program came together really well too. We prepared our bits; Henty prepared their bits; and I was worried that it wouldn't gel; but it did, really well! I think the program we presented would do any city church proud. So, now Henty church needs to follow-up on their contacts. Please keep them in your prayers.

Okay - look out, Henty - SPY are on our way ! Here we go!