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Everything in October 2018 issue

By Philip Bell

Review

October 2018

Reviews > Book

Adam: The First and the Last. Responding to modern attacks on Adam and Christ

In recent years, a concerning phenomenon has emerged: issues that once divided evangelical Christians from liberals are now debated within evangelicalism itself. Heavily influenced by the tenets of evolutionary orthodoxy, prominent writers are increasingly going for the jugular. We evangelicals must, they insist, relinquish the traditional view of a literal first man. Adam and…

By James Chittenden

Review

October 2018

Reviews > Book

Jesus Through the Old Testament: Transform your Bible understanding

The whole Bible presents Jesus, but do we always perceive him? Graeme sets out to help Christians see the centrality of Jesus to the Old Testament (OT). The book is in two halves, the first covering how to see Jesus in Scripture’s bigger picture, while the second provides more practical application. The first few…

By Jonathan Stephen

Review

October 2018

Reviews > Book

What are We Doing Here?

The distinguished American author of these essays was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Obama and has won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. She is widely respected among conservative evangelical figures on both sides of the Atlantic. The fifteen essays in this collection are mainly edited versions of lectures delivered at universities in…

By Paul Relf

Review

October 2018

Reviews > Book

Universe – Time, Space, Life, God

Everyone has questions on big issues. This title provides fascinating insights into four common areas of such questions: time, space, life and God. The four areas are addressed separately, each section giving scientific details (where relevant) as well as quotations from great scientists, thinkers, writers and theologians. The reader’s thinking is challenged and the…

By Graham Hilton

Review

October 2018

Reviews > Book

The Long Night: A True Story

This book is Bornstein’s account of his experience of the Holocaust. He was first incarcerated in September 1938 (aged 15) and was finally liberated by American soldiers in April 1945. It is a harrowing account of suffering, opening with a family tree revealing just five survivors from over 60 original members. Bornstein shows the…

By Faith Cook

Review

October 2018

Reviews > Book

The Fear of God

In days when any true understanding of the fear of God is in short supply, this challenging book calls us to wonder again at the character and glory of God and rebukes our careless and sloppy attitudes to his holiness and mercy. The Fear of God is the title of the fifth of John…

By David Campbell

Review

October 2018

Reviews > Book

The Gospel-Shaped Life

Some readers may be familiar with Ian Hamilton’s earlier work, The Faith-Shaped Life — a series of 43 short pieces examining dimensions of our faith as believers in Jesus. The Gospel-Shaped Life follows the same pattern. It aims ‘to explore the multi-faceted character of the gospel and to show how the gospel comes to…

By Timothy Cross

Article

October 2018

Articles > Ecclesiological & Pastoral

The ‘problem’ of unanswered prayer

‘Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies’. So states the Shorter Catechism, Q. 98. Its answer to the question ‘What is prayer?’ here is hard to better. Prayer is…

Historical

October 2018

Articles > Historical

SASRA and the World War 1 centenary (3)

In this third article, the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Scripture Readers Association (SASRA) continues to highlight the work of its forerunners in the last months of World War One. It’s striking to note the deep concern for gospel mission in 1918 within the military and elsewhere. With the Army and RAF in mind, please pray…

By John J. Murray

Article

October 2018

Articles

Christian reality in a world of unreality

The sovereign, triune God is utterly unknowable unless he reveals himself. He dwells in deep darkness and can be known only as he reveals himself through his Word. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God’ (John 1:1). God is the supreme and ultimate reality;…

By Stephen Kneale

Article

October 2018

Articles > Ecclesiological & Pastoral

The number one reason youth leave the church

When churches find a dearth of young people in the congregation, it is never long before questions start being asked. The questions become even more pointed when children, who otherwise seemed engaged, drift off when they become teenagers. Were there not enough programmes available for them? Were they isolated from their peers? Did we…

By Iain Murray

Article

October 2018

Articles > Ecclesiological & Pastoral

Treasures at Geanies House

A few years before the last battle on British soil fought at Culloden, a fine country manor was being completed. The owners may have heard the gunfire on that April day in 1746. Today the Jacobite cause is forgotten, but the old manor still stands and contains more treasures than it ever did in…

By Gary Clayton

Article

October 2018

Articles > Ecclesiological & Pastoral

Deathly hallows: A Christian response to Halloween

Every Halloween, rubber skeletons, plastic skulls and various grisly, ghostly and ghoulish items appear in the windows of pubs, clubs, shops and shopping centres. But, strange as it may seem, they don’t — ironically — feature in the window displays of the local funeral director. I wonder why that is. Actually, I’m pretty sure…

News

October 2018

News > Religious liberty

Bible ban nurse cleared to return to work

A nurse dismissed for giving a Bible to a patient has been allowed to return to work, although the two-year ordeal has left her stressed and ‘humiliated’. In a video interview, Sarah Kuteh said she was ‘deeply shocked, very hurt and humiliated’ by the 2016 decision by the Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford to…

News

October 2018

News > Society

Government plans for ‘no-fault’ divorce

Marriages will be broken up more quickly and easily if government plans get the go-ahead following an announcement to consult on new proposals in England and Wales. Critics say the move would further ‘trivialise marriage’, but the government says it would make splits less acrimonious. The consultation will, among other things, consider the introduction…

News

October 2018

News > Society

Reaction to the ‘Boris burka row’

In August, Boris Johnson wrote an article in the Daily Telegraph saying the ‘burka is oppressive and ridiculous, but that’s still no reason to ban it’. In his article he described those who display only their eyes as ‘looking like letterboxes’. The commentariat exploded into a frenzy of outrage. Here is a selection of…

COMMENT: Boris, burkas and bans

By Mike Judge

Article

October 2018

Articles > Comment

COMMENT: Boris, burkas and bans

The discussion sparked by Boris Johnson’s burka comments raises some important points. I want to defend religious freedom, so I don’t like politicians telling people how to observe their religious practices. I want to defend free speech, so I don’t like the way people wanted Boris to be ‘investigated’ for his remarks. I am…

By Andy Young

Article

October 2018

Articles > Guest column

GUEST COLUMN: The means of grace (2): baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Have you met with God recently? Did you enjoy his presence and bask in his glory? Was your faith strengthened as Christ himself ministered to your needs? Would you even know where to go to find these things? Or perhaps you have given up looking for that elusive experience of God that evangelical Christianity…

By Ben Wilkerson

Historical

October 2018

Articles > Historical

LETTER FROM AMERICA: Legacy of the Huguenot Church

On October 18 1685, Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes. Consisting of 92 articles aimed at promoting civil and religious liberty, the Edict of Nantes had been issued by Henry IV in 1598 in an attempt to end civil war and grant some liberties to the Huguenots, which the French government and Roman…

Article

October 2018

Articles > World Mission

New Bible storybook for the Chukchi of Siberia

‘Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess’ (Hebrews 4:14). The Chukchi people, a minority group with a population of around 15,000, are indigenous reindeer herders and fishermen living in Siberia, Russia. Partners of OM…

By Mary Beeke

Article

October 2018

Articles > World Mission > Americas > South America > Brazil

Ministering in Campina Grande, Brazil

Brazil has a strong Roman Catholic tradition, so during Lent people give up meat and other enjoyable things for 40 days before Easter. But for six days preceding Lent, the whole country has a holiday called ‘Carnaval’, in which many people party day and night. The major cities attract millions of Brazilians and foreigners…

Article

October 2018

Articles > World Mission > Asia > Western Asia > Israel

Three former addicts baptised in the Jordan

At the beginning of the year, Kyle, a homeless Jewish addict, approached Christian Witness to Israel missionary Igal Vender on the street, asking for money for food. When Igal told him he had good news to share and instead invited him for a meal at a local cafe, neither imagined where it would lead.…

Article

October 2018

Articles > World Mission > Europe > Western Europe > France

Reaching Carcassonne, France

‘Reaching Carcassonne’ 2018 took place from 21-28 August, in partnership with ‘La Voix des Prophètes’ and United Beach Missions (UBM), and with the support of ‘La Maison de la Bible’. The team of 29 was made up of 10 ladies and 19 men, aged between 17 and 67, including students, professionals, civil servants and…

By Andy McIntosh

News

October 2018

News > Events

Event – Creation roadshows

Early June, I was in the Isle of Lewis, which was a great blessing as we had never been to these remoter parts of Scotland. Lewis has seen revivals, which has meant a greater knowledge of gospel truth, but a generation has now arisen which has less knowledge of the Bible and the schools…

By Caroline Kent

News

October 2018

News > Induction

Induction – Welcoming service at Bentley

On 25 July 2018, members and friends of Bentley Reformed Baptist Church gathered for a special service to formally recognise Mr Craig Whale as pastor. Pastor Michael Harley, of Friston Baptist Church, Suffolk, was kind enough to come and conduct the service, which was held at 7.30pm on a very warm evening. The surrounding…

Conferences – Inskip Bible Convention

By David Earnshaw

News

October 2018

News > Conferences

Conferences – Inskip Bible Convention

The Fylde Coast has a rich spiritual history. From the small village of Elswick came William Bramwell, the Methodist evangelist who so impressed William and Catherine Booth they named their first son after him. In the next village along from Elswick lies Inskip Baptist Chapel, a spiritual community that has worshipped here for the…

News

October 2018

News > Conferences

Conferences – Presbyterian conference

Great fellowship and excellent talks marked this year’s Positively Presbyterian conference, held at Lendrick Muir between 20 and 22 August. Our devotional sessions were led by this year’s Moderator, Rev Angus Macrae, who led us through the experiences of Elijah and pointed us to greater trust in God. Our first speaker, David Meredith, explained…

Conferences – Junior Anglican conference

News

October 2018

News > Conferences

Conferences – Junior Anglican conference

The Junior Anglican Evangelical Conference (JAEC) was held during August, welcoming approximately 35 delegates, including ministry trainees, ordinands, curates, early incumbents and others. The conference considered the theme of ‘The gospel in the parish’ and asked what gospel ministry looked like in 21st century parishes across the UK. This year’s JAEC looked at the…

News

October 2018

News > Conferences

Conferences – Creation conference in Pittsburgh

From 29 July to 1 August, Dr Bill Worraker and Matthew Pickhaver represented Biblical Creation Trust (BCT) at the 8th International Conference on Creationism in Pittsburgh, USA. Nearly 300 people were in attendance although numbers grew to as many as 800 for the open evening sessions. Besides afternoon discussion panels on biology, geology and…

Anniversary – Silver anniversary for Wooler Evangelical

By Michael Veitch

News

October 2018

News > Events

Anniversary – Silver anniversary for Wooler Evangelical

Wooler Evangelical Church in rural north Northumberland marked its 25th anniversary with a series of special services over the weekend of 1-2 September. The services provided an opportunity both to reflect upon the faithfulness of God in establishing and sustaining the fellowship over 25 years, and also to seek his honour and blessing for…

News

October 2018

News > Mission

Mission – Kosovo

A trip to a barber where he had been once before, gave OM evangelist ‘Peter’ (name changed to protect his identity), the opportunity for friendship and gospel conversation in Kosovo. There were several men in the shop, friends of the owner, just sitting around talking and having coffee. When his haircut was finished, the…

Mission – Sheffield Pregnancy Centre

News

October 2018

News > Mission

Mission – Sheffield Pregnancy Centre

The Sheffield Pregnancy Advice Centre (PAC) is preparing to apply for the government approval, which is given by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). If CQC approval is granted, the centre can advertise free ultrasound scans, and the whole operation can then move up ‘several notches’ on every front. A reason to give thanks is…

By Ali McLachlan

News

October 2018

News > Mission

Mission – Edinburgh outreach

Grace West Edinburgh welcomed a team of more than 25 people, some from the USA and England, over the summer. They joined the members of Grace Edinburgh for a week of evangelism in the west and north of the city. Some 4,000 homes were reached with literature, and a further 2,000 gospels and tracts…

By Roger Carswell

News

October 2018

News > Mission

Evangelism – Skegness witness

For nearly 20 years Theo Fox has taken the fairground organ, which he designed and built himself, to the shopping area of Skegness, and while the organ has played, he has distributed hundreds of thousands of gospel tracts to holiday makers and locals. For six hours every Sunday, which is the busiest day of…

News

October 2018

News > Education

Education – Scottish schools in sex education row

The Scottish government has given its backing to draft lesson plans that could effectively lower the age of consent to 13. The draft Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) curriculum suggests teaching pupils aged 12 to 14 that although sex under the age of 16 is illegal, those aged 13 and over could engage…

News

October 2018

News > Media

Media – Vue backs down over film row

National cinema chain Vue has finally admitted that it was wrong to block the screening of an ‘ex-gay’ film, and settled in full a legal claim brought against them. The film, called Voices of the Silenced, profiled individuals who questioned their gay identity and successfully moved away from same-sex attraction. It was due to…

News

October 2018

News > Family

Family – Humanist marriages in NI

The first two humanist marriages have taken place in Northern Ireland after the Belfast Court of Appeal ruled that humanist marriages must be legally recognised. Emma Taylor and Paul Malone tied the knot at Queen’s University Belfast, while Alanna McCaffrey and Ronan Johnson got married in County Fermanagh. The only previous legal humanist marriage…

News

October 2018

News > Family

Family – Named Person threat still real

Campaigners who fought against the controversial Named Person scheme in Scotland have raised the alarm over documents showing the Scottish government has a ‘plan B’ if legislators block the proposals for the state guardian programme. According to The Christian Institute, which together with other groups brought a successful court case against the Scottish government,…

Ethics – Sexual abuse worker speaks out

News

October 2018

News > Ethics

Ethics – Sexual abuse worker speaks out

Women seeking help at sexual abuse shelters could be put at risk if their shelters are forced to accept men claiming to identify as women, one worker has said. The female worker’s comments came after a report by LGBT rights group Stonewall, published in August, claimed sexual abuse shelters would be unaffected by assisting…

News

October 2018

News > Ethics

Ethics – Betting shops dodge advertising ban

Gambling companies have been side-stepping a ban on advertising to children by sponsoring football teams, Christian charity group CARE has warned. In a statement, it said gambling advertising has effectively dodged a ruling to protect under-age children from seeing gambling adverts by sponsoring football clubs and putting their logos on team shirts. Research carried…

News

October 2018

News > Ethics

Ethics – ‘Trans’ prisoner assaults women

A convicted paedophile and rapist, who was transferred to a women’s prison after he said he was transgender, sexually assaulted multiple women within days of the move. The man, who calls himself Karen White, pleaded guilty to repeatedly raping a woman in 2016, having previously been convicted of a sex attack on a child…

Ethics – Smyth death reignites abuse reports

News

October 2018

News > Ethics

Ethics – Smyth death reignites abuse reports

Former barrister John Smyth QC, who had been accused of abusing boys attending Christian summer camps, has died at his home in Cape Town, South Africa. Mr Smyth had been wanted for questioning over abuse claims concerning boys at Winchester College during the 1970s and 1980s, following an in-depth investigation carried out by Channel…

News

October 2018

News > Ethics

Ethics – Pro-trans MP bullied by trans lobby

Caroline Lucas MP, the former leader of the Green Party and a known champion of gay and transgender rights, has been branded ‘transphobic’ for agreeing to meet with a women’s group called Woman’s Place UK. As reported by The Christian Institute, Ms Lucas had agreed to meet with the feminist group to hear their…

News

October 2018

News > Religious liberty

Religious liberty – BA worker in fresh legal claim

A British Airways employee who won a legal battle in 2013 to wear a cross on a necklace at work has launched a fresh tribunal claim against the airline for ‘victimisation and harassment’. According to reports in the national press Nadia Eweida — whose landmark victory against BA came at the European Court of…

News

October 2018

News > Religious liberty

Religious liberty – Scout master wins settlement

A scout master who was kicked out of the organisation for raising concerns about its magazine’s promotion of Islam and LGBT events has won a settlement in his case. Brian Walker, a veteran scout leader, was barred from the scouts after sending a letter to Scouting magazine in which he raised several concerns. He questioned why…

International – Argentine Catholics in abortion row

News

October 2018

News > International

International – Argentine Catholics in abortion row

Pro-abortion protesters in Argentina have urged fellow citizens to quit the Catholic Church after it helped to defeat an attempt to liberalise abortion law in August. According to the Associated Press, hundreds of people gathered in Buenos Aires to hand out forms that renounced their religious affiliation to the Catholic Church in protest against…

News

October 2018

News > International

International – ‘ChurchToo’ scandals rock US ministries

Pastor Dean Curry, from the Life Center Assembly of God church in Tacoma, Washington, has been fired over alleged misconduct with a former church employee. The Christian Post received a statement from the Assemblies of God’s Northwest District Council, which stated the decision had been based on the ‘testimony of two or more witnesses’…

News

October 2018

News > International

International – Keralan Christians rebuild after floods

The devastating floods in Kerala have taken more than 160 lives and made nearly 200,000 people from Christian communities homeless, reports have claimed. While the water has receded, making it easier for food and first aid to get through to affected areas, Barnabas Fund partners on the ground have told of complete damage to…

By Richard Turner

Review

October 2018

Reviews > Book

The Greatest Fight in the World: Spurgeon’s Final Manifesto

Here is a book which I have read many times over the years. I have never ceased to be both challenged and encouraged by its contents. In April 1891, Spurgeon gave what would be his final annual address to his beloved Pastors’ College. He tells us in his opening remarks that it is ‘the…