In this issue there are a number of articles to respond to. Dyfed reviews Roger Mitchell’s thesis Church, Gospel & Empire. Roger’s book is his thesis so we should not expect it to be an easy read, however, with Dyfed’s review I think the book will be accessible for most. In a recent blog Roger explained that his convictions are very simple, in terms of (my language) the application of the simple Gospel message to all aspects of life. A simple and profound message that speaks into the most complex of areas.
Chris Bourne takes up a challenge concerning the possibility of a ‘religion’ gate. I have previously said that we definitely do not want such a gate. The problem is again one of terminology. So see what you make of this article.
Money and discussions surrounding that sticky topic are present. Try Deb Chapman’s article. With help from Zygmunt Bauman she traces how there have been so many shifts post Enlightenment through the Industiral Revolution to where we are today. Joanna Storie asks what is the economy, and how does God’s economy differ. I have an article on how does creational wealth differ from artificial and Nigel Dutson opens up the question of who really ‘owns’ a corporation.
Nigel also has a short piece on how art will still shape culture in spite of the huge economic (and power) shifts from an old to a new world that are happening.
And finally two articles on another angle about the loss of ‘Christian’ values in a nation. Here I suggest that it is a fallacy to try to defend the ‘Christian nation’ stance, and that followers of Christ are to shape society, they are to define norms, but not primarily at the legislative end of things.
And finally an article on Values. I entitled this ‘Values: Unelectability’ because with values of honesty, openness and honouring an opposition that this would undercut self-promotion. So often advancement is based on self-promotion and advertising. To take a Jesus-path perhaps it renders us ‘unelectable’… or maybe not.
So I hope you enjoy and interact with these articles.
Just a few ‘house’ rules. There is not a party line, these are perspectives, but nothing that absolutely writes everyone off who takes a different viewpoint is the spirit I am looking for. There is not one ‘Christian / biblical’ approach. An article that says ‘Christian schools are the only way’ is no better than ‘Christian schools are of the devil’. We are living in a fallen world so looking for a redemptive way through – a pathway that will be incomplete and imperfect. So come on the writers!!!
