The author and atheist Christopher Hitchens wrote in his autobiography: ‘Everything about Christianity is contained in the pathetic image of the flock.’ I think he’s spot on. Frankly, he’s thought much harder about that metaphor than many Christians have. This sheep metaphor is no incidental part of the Bible, it’s central to it. Think…
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Sarah Everard was one year older than I when her life was tragically taken in March. Raised in Battersea myself, I know Clapham Common well (the popular park where Sarah was last seen alive). Her tragic death profoundly affects me, as it has many others across the country. Harassment of women has become a…
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We are living in a day in which, admittedly, it is hard not to be pessimistic about the prospects for the church. Bad things are happening in the life of the nations. Bad things are happening in the lives of Christians and their churches. It is hard to be joyous and upbeat, isn’t it?…
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Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, recently declared that ‘service is universal’ ahead of a highly-publicised interview with Oprah Winfrey. While acknowledging the ongoing controversy surrounding many of Harry and Meghan’s revelations, a Christian can nonetheless say a hearty amen to the remark about service being universal. In one of his gospel…
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When I’m waiting in line to order my drink at a coffee shop, my automatic instinct is to grab for my phone. Not to do anything necessary, of course; just to scroll aimlessly for the minute or two before it’s my turn to order. Maybe I can catch a few tweets, headlines, or Instagram…
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Jonathan Fletcher is very well-known within the Anglican part of conservative evangelicalism, though maybe less so among independents. He was the minister of Emmanuel Church, Wimbledon, from 1982 to 2012, but perhaps the single most influential Anglican conservative evangelical across a much wider spectrum of conferences, camps, and churches. Many flocked to his church,…
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One of the ugliest sights in the world is that of a child who rules over his parents. We have all seen it, I’m sure. We have seen parents who tiptoe around their child’s cries, their child’s demands, their child’s outbursts of anger. They will do whatever he dictates, give whatever he commands. We…
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Mr O, last time we went for a walk together, you took me a bit by surprise. Oh yes? Why was that? Well, I asked you what has helped you most in your Christian life, and you said it was being an active member of a biblical church. But I’ve asked the same question…
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Vaccine passports Indications that the government might extend social distancing measures beyond 21 June and introduce vaccine passports for churches are deeply worrying. While no firm proposals have yet come forward, we have seen the government shift the goalposts many times before. Confidence in what they say has been eroded. We all acknowledge the…
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Neither drizzle nor dull skies dampened the celebrations on 8 May 1945. Victory in Europe had finally put an end to years of suffering, separation, and death. The war was over. Crowds euphoric with joy swarmed Buckingham Palace. There were hugs and kisses, smiles and laughter, dancing and singing. For the first time since…
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The Humanists Association launched a concerted social media campaign ahead of the census hitting Britain’s doormats in March this year. The campaign urged people who do not practice a religion not to tick the ‘Christian’ box simply because they believe they live in a Christian country or because they were christened in a church.
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Christian groups have welcomed the news that ‘abuse of trust’ laws are being extended to cover religious leaders and sports coaches. The laws ban adults from having sexual relationships with any young person aged 16 or 17 who may be under their care. Campaigners have said the changes are long overdue.
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