“When words are many,” wrote Solomon – while his wisdom remained with him – “transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Prov.10v19). It is a lesson that is especially timely right now.
We have never seen such a proliferation of words as we do today, due largely to the digital communication revolution. The inevitable result is that words become cheapened and debased. In the same way as a cash-strapped government discovers that mass money-printing leads to inflation, so it is with the reckless (mis)use of words. The more people talk – or text, or tweet, or emote, or sound off – the less they truly say. The purchasing power of their words is shrunk.
Back in the sultry, sunny days of the summer just gone, I spoke at an event that is an annual highlight of my year. It’s a bit of a niche gig, but it’s a weekend-long camp for Christian anglers.
From Friday evening until the middle of Sunday afternoon we live under canvas and pass the time sharing fellowship, eating together, fishing, and meeting for short Bible talks, times of prayer and worship, and an outdoor communion service on the Sunday morning. This year we took “Courage” as our theme and we began by looking at the first chapter of the book of Joshua.
This year marks two anniversaries – 244 years since the end of the American Revolutionary War with the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781, and ten years since the first performance of Lin Manuel Miranda’s record-breaking musical Hamilton which commemorates the former as part of its retelling of the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton.
From late September onwards there is the opportunity to watch the original Broadway cast in UK cinemas or see it live in the West End or catch the UK tour as it visits Norwich and Glasgow, and I would highly recommend doing so. But what has made this musical such a runaway success?
The appointment of Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury has inevitably raised questions as to how evangelicals deal with what are often termed "secondary issues," including differences over women’s ministry and whether it is right to remain in mixed denominations.
These are more complex issues than a simple distinction between primary and secondary issues would suggest, a distinction which is rarely agreed upon anyway, such that the real issue is often whether the point in disagreement is primary or secondary. The New Testament (NT) stresses the importance of maintaining unity, but also recognises that there are times when separation is both justified and necessary.
On Friday 3 October, the Church of England announced that the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally would succeed Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury.
There has been a substantial response from all quarters - not surprising given how big the news is. I’ve seen some responses along the lines of arguing that the new appointment offers the best of a poor set of options, and some bemoaning the terrible disaster that they consider this to be. Those responses from within the CofE have a uniting theme: evangelicals can and must stay and fight in the Church; they must not desert their flocks and must continue to care for them.
The term “fin de siècle” literally means “end of the century”. But it has often been used to refer to the last decade of the 1890s, and also, more widely, to a sense of moral decay, world-weariness, and pessimism about the future of civilisation, combined with a feeling that one era is closing and another is in the process of coming.
It is a suitable term to sum up how many feel about the 2020s. It’s a decade that has already seen, in no particular order, Covid, four UK Prime Ministers, wars in Ukraine, Sudan, the DRC and the Middle East, the re-election of Donald Trump, the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan, increasing (and often under-reported) persecution of Christians globally and the continuing rise of China (see John Stevens, p.8). Technology continues to change rapidly, with the increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence, alongside fears about how it might develop. Environmental issues continue to generate strong emotions, with negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty, which might have alleviated pollution, collapsing in August.
Evangelicals in the Church of England are processing the announcement of Dame Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Some will be quicker than others to form and vocalise an opinion, but it is a significant moment that will have an impact on us.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding failures were the presenting issue for the resignation of the previous incumbent, and those wounds are still open.
After months of speculation, the Church of England has finally appointed a new Archbishop of Canterbury. The first woman in the post, she is the current Bishop of London and as such has already played a senior role in the Church for several years.
Her theological training and ministerial experience are minimal. She was enrolled on a local ordination course rather than at a theological college and served a couple of part-time curacies before being very briefly rector of a parish church. She was soon promoted to the episcopate as suffragan bishop of Crediton, but her main achievement appears to be that she was a competent administrator in the National Health Service. Is a track record like that promising for a future Archbishop of Canterbury?
When the chips are down, what qualities do you look for in a leader? Someone who can offer a stirring speech or a strategic vision might spring to mind. But when a storm comes, there is something to be said for a calm voice and a firm hand on the tiller. And with this morning’s historic announcement that Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, is to be our 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, that is exactly what the Church of England has chosen.
Bishop Sarah is not an evangelical. She has previously led on the Living in Love and Faith process, and described the vote in 2023 to approve same-sex blessings as a "moment of hope for the Church" noting that there were prayers "within that suite that I would use". But she has always been aware of the differences of opinion across the Church of England on this, and other, issues, adding "I know that what we have proposed as a way forward does not go nearly far enough for many but too far for others."
Nolo episcopari! No, not a Harry Potter spell. It’s a Latin tagline – meaning "I don’t want to be made a Bishop!" – a reaction that has almost become traditional when someone is nominated to significant office in the church.
It’s an intuitive idea: the best person to be given power is the one who isn’t grasping for it. Given how much influence and authority the role entails, perhaps the most becoming candidate for an overseer in God’s church is one who refuses it.
In recent months, much has been written about the so-called “quiet revival.” In essence, what is being reported is that we are seeing an increase in people, especially younger people, attending church, with a growing interest in the Bible.
In my work with The Open-Air Mission, I have certainly seen a far greater number of young people showing interest in the good news than I have previously observed. People are open to talking about the gospel and reading God’s Word. These are all good things, though I remain cautiously optimistic.
This week's Labour Party conference in Liverpool proved to be a challenging time for Keir Starmer. It's not an easy time to be in government!
The economic situation is tough, immigration seems to be the hottest topic if the media is to be believed and international crises show no sign of abating. Since winning last year’s general election with a massive majority, Labour has plummeted in the polls and the PM is facing discontent among MPs and party members.
There is a palpable sense that the world order is changing from the “rules-based” order established after the end of the Second World War and the American hegemony that followed the end of the Cold War, to be replaced by a multi-polar world of competing empires and spheres of influence.
Whilst Donald Trump may speak of “making America great again”, the reality is that American isolationism is seeing a diminution of US power and influence as other nations increase their military and economic power. The military parade held in Beijing on 3 September to celebrate victory over Japan was a very visual demonstration of this new reality, as Presidents Xi Jinping and Putin stood shoulder to shoulder alongside Prime Minister Modi of India and Kim Jong Un of North Korea.
It's sometimes said that culture is like a river. To fully appreciate its flow, you need to get in it. I had the privilege of putting this into practice recently when I visited a church with a predominantly Nigerian membership.
Rather than observing from a distance, I got to swim in the stream of their worship. It highlighted several ways in which my own multi-ethnic church values certain things differently. This doesn't automatically mean either set of practices is better or worse. But the customs reveal the creeds underneath. Experiencing the differences first-hand helped me sense what was going on under the surface.
This time two weeks ago, Charlie Kirk was an unfamiliar name to me.
It was a bit like the morning of 9 December 1980, when John Lennon’s death was announced. I’d never heard of him, though I was familiar with Paul McCartney and knew that the Beatles had been a notable pop group in the 1960s. I suppose my defence was that I was only eleven at the time.
I wonder if you feel discouraged and anxious as we look at our struggling health and social care system and the potential changes to law around the corner.
I won’t list the worries and problems that might cause us sleepless nights. So instead, let’s turn to prayer. We want to see our churches pray for our health and social care services in the UK, and the Christians who work tirelessly to support and care for those in need.
Organisers estimate that at least 10,000 people gave their voice to the unborn in this year's “March for Life” that finished in Parliament Square, London.
Supported by several Christian leaders, the peaceful protest also faced opposition from pro-abortionists. The march included prayer and well-known speakers.
“The answer to speech we do not like is more speech.” [1] Over recent days, I’ve been reminded of those words from Douglas Murray in light of the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk.
It was one of those world-stopping events when we all tangibly felt the weight of the darkness of evil. If ever there was a "Houston, we have a problem" moment for the West concerning our current inability to do amicable debate and disagreement then this would appear to be it. Our world feels increasingly, and at times aggressively, tribal and disconnected. It’s a heavy thought indeed.
Here’s one of the least wholesome and most shocking experiences in 21st century life: one is scrolling unknowingly, perhaps even unthinkingly, on one’s phone, and suddenly sees an act of murderous violence as a video plays automatically.
Particularly in the last few weeks, with footage of the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, recently released; and then with the assassination of Charlie Kirk - political activist and committed Christian - while speaking at a campus event in Utah. We may be an ocean away, but we're connected enough for these tragedies to feature in our cultural conversation, not least when they are played and replayed on our screens.
Comment
Words are becoming cheapened and debased
“When words are many,” wrote Solomon – while his wisdom remained with him – “transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Prov.10v19). It is a lesson that is especially timely right now.
We have never seen such a proliferation of words as we do today, due largely to the digital communication revolution. The inevitable result is that words become cheapened and debased. In the same way as a cash-strapped government discovers that mass money-printing leads to inflation, so it is with the reckless (mis)use of words. The more people talk – or text, or tweet, or emote, or sound off – the less they truly say. The purchasing power of their words is shrunk.
Trust and obey like Joshua
Back in the sultry, sunny days of the summer just gone, I spoke at an event that is an annual highlight of my year. It’s a bit of a niche gig, but it’s a weekend-long camp for Christian anglers.
From Friday evening until the middle of Sunday afternoon we live under canvas and pass the time sharing fellowship, eating together, fishing, and meeting for short Bible talks, times of prayer and worship, and an outdoor communion service on the Sunday morning. This year we took “Courage” as our theme and we began by looking at the first chapter of the book of Joshua.
Anniversaries prompt reflection on life’s big questions
This year marks two anniversaries – 244 years since the end of the American Revolutionary War with the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781, and ten years since the first performance of Lin Manuel Miranda’s record-breaking musical Hamilton which commemorates the former as part of its retelling of the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton.
From late September onwards there is the opportunity to watch the original Broadway cast in UK cinemas or see it live in the West End or catch the UK tour as it visits Norwich and Glasgow, and I would highly recommend doing so. But what has made this musical such a runaway success?
John Stevens: Evangelical unity & 'secondary issues'
The appointment of Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury has inevitably raised questions as to how evangelicals deal with what are often termed "secondary issues," including differences over women’s ministry and whether it is right to remain in mixed denominations.
These are more complex issues than a simple distinction between primary and secondary issues would suggest, a distinction which is rarely agreed upon anyway, such that the real issue is often whether the point in disagreement is primary or secondary. The New Testament (NT) stresses the importance of maintaining unity, but also recognises that there are times when separation is both justified and necessary.
The CofE: Time for evangelicals to leave?
On Friday 3 October, the Church of England announced that the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally would succeed Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury.
There has been a substantial response from all quarters - not surprising given how big the news is. I’ve seen some responses along the lines of arguing that the new appointment offers the best of a poor set of options, and some bemoaning the terrible disaster that they consider this to be. Those responses from within the CofE have a uniting theme: evangelicals can and must stay and fight in the Church; they must not desert their flocks and must continue to care for them.
Fin de Siècle
The term “fin de siècle” literally means “end of the century”. But it has often been used to refer to the last decade of the 1890s, and also, more widely, to a sense of moral decay, world-weariness, and pessimism about the future of civilisation, combined with a feeling that one era is closing and another is in the process of coming.
It is a suitable term to sum up how many feel about the 2020s. It’s a decade that has already seen, in no particular order, Covid, four UK Prime Ministers, wars in Ukraine, Sudan, the DRC and the Middle East, the re-election of Donald Trump, the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan, increasing (and often under-reported) persecution of Christians globally and the continuing rise of China (see John Stevens, p.8). Technology continues to change rapidly, with the increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence, alongside fears about how it might develop. Environmental issues continue to generate strong emotions, with negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty, which might have alleviated pollution, collapsing in August.
Living in Love and Faith, safeguarding & complementarianism
Evangelicals in the Church of England are processing the announcement of Dame Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Some will be quicker than others to form and vocalise an opinion, but it is a significant moment that will have an impact on us.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding failures were the presenting issue for the resignation of the previous incumbent, and those wounds are still open.
Sarah Mullally: 'Undertrained and inexperienced'
After months of speculation, the Church of England has finally appointed a new Archbishop of Canterbury. The first woman in the post, she is the current Bishop of London and as such has already played a senior role in the Church for several years.
Her theological training and ministerial experience are minimal. She was enrolled on a local ordination course rather than at a theological college and served a couple of part-time curacies before being very briefly rector of a parish church. She was soon promoted to the episcopate as suffragan bishop of Crediton, but her main achievement appears to be that she was a competent administrator in the National Health Service. Is a track record like that promising for a future Archbishop of Canterbury?
Sarah Mullally: A calm voice & firm hand, but not an evangelical
When the chips are down, what qualities do you look for in a leader? Someone who can offer a stirring speech or a strategic vision might spring to mind. But when a storm comes, there is something to be said for a calm voice and a firm hand on the tiller. And with this morning’s historic announcement that Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, is to be our 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, that is exactly what the Church of England has chosen.
Bishop Sarah is not an evangelical. She has previously led on the Living in Love and Faith process, and described the vote in 2023 to approve same-sex blessings as a "moment of hope for the Church" noting that there were prayers "within that suite that I would use". But she has always been aware of the differences of opinion across the Church of England on this, and other, issues, adding "I know that what we have proposed as a way forward does not go nearly far enough for many but too far for others."
Those who teach 'will be judged more strictly'
Nolo episcopari! No, not a Harry Potter spell. It’s a Latin tagline – meaning "I don’t want to be made a Bishop!" – a reaction that has almost become traditional when someone is nominated to significant office in the church.
It’s an intuitive idea: the best person to be given power is the one who isn’t grasping for it. Given how much influence and authority the role entails, perhaps the most becoming candidate for an overseer in God’s church is one who refuses it.
The quiet revival: 'I remain cautiously optimistic'
In recent months, much has been written about the so-called “quiet revival.” In essence, what is being reported is that we are seeing an increase in people, especially younger people, attending church, with a growing interest in the Bible.
In my work with The Open-Air Mission, I have certainly seen a far greater number of young people showing interest in the good news than I have previously observed. People are open to talking about the gospel and reading God’s Word. These are all good things, though I remain cautiously optimistic.
Christians and the digital ID debate
This week's Labour Party conference in Liverpool proved to be a challenging time for Keir Starmer. It's not an easy time to be in government!
The economic situation is tough, immigration seems to be the hottest topic if the media is to be believed and international crises show no sign of abating. Since winning last year’s general election with a massive majority, Labour has plummeted in the polls and the PM is facing discontent among MPs and party members.
Fear and disorientation as the world changes
There is a palpable sense that the world order is changing from the “rules-based” order established after the end of the Second World War and the American hegemony that followed the end of the Cold War, to be replaced by a multi-polar world of competing empires and spheres of influence.
Whilst Donald Trump may speak of “making America great again”, the reality is that American isolationism is seeing a diminution of US power and influence as other nations increase their military and economic power. The military parade held in Beijing on 3 September to celebrate victory over Japan was a very visual demonstration of this new reality, as Presidents Xi Jinping and Putin stood shoulder to shoulder alongside Prime Minister Modi of India and Kim Jong Un of North Korea.
Lessons from a three-hour church service
It's sometimes said that culture is like a river. To fully appreciate its flow, you need to get in it. I had the privilege of putting this into practice recently when I visited a church with a predominantly Nigerian membership.
Rather than observing from a distance, I got to swim in the stream of their worship. It highlighted several ways in which my own multi-ethnic church values certain things differently. This doesn't automatically mean either set of practices is better or worse. But the customs reveal the creeds underneath. Experiencing the differences first-hand helped me sense what was going on under the surface.
Flags, fear and the question of identity
I walked to a birthday dinner through the streets of London on Saturday 13 September, and remembered that I am mortal.
This was the day that a rally, organised by anti-immigrant activist Tommy Robinson, saw up to 150,000 people march through central London. Held under the name “Unite the Kingdom," Robinson promoted it as a free speech event.
Charlie Kirk, free speech and Godly speech
This time two weeks ago, Charlie Kirk was an unfamiliar name to me.
It was a bit like the morning of 9 December 1980, when John Lennon’s death was announced. I’d never heard of him, though I was familiar with Paul McCartney and knew that the Beatles had been a notable pop group in the 1960s. I suppose my defence was that I was only eleven at the time.
'Health+Care Sunday': Will you join us in prayer?
I wonder if you feel discouraged and anxious as we look at our struggling health and social care system and the potential changes to law around the corner.
I won’t list the worries and problems that might cause us sleepless nights. So instead, let’s turn to prayer. We want to see our churches pray for our health and social care services in the UK, and the Christians who work tirelessly to support and care for those in need.
Abortion: Building a culture where mothers are supported
Organisers estimate that at least 10,000 people gave their voice to the unborn in this year's “March for Life” that finished in Parliament Square, London.
Supported by several Christian leaders, the peaceful protest also faced opposition from pro-abortionists. The march included prayer and well-known speakers.
The Christian's call to handle conflict differently
“The answer to speech we do not like is more speech.” [1] Over recent days, I’ve been reminded of those words from Douglas Murray in light of the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk.
It was one of those world-stopping events when we all tangibly felt the weight of the darkness of evil. If ever there was a "Houston, we have a problem" moment for the West concerning our current inability to do amicable debate and disagreement then this would appear to be it. Our world feels increasingly, and at times aggressively, tribal and disconnected. It’s a heavy thought indeed.
Iryna Zarutska, Charlie Kirk & the cross
Here’s one of the least wholesome and most shocking experiences in 21st century life: one is scrolling unknowingly, perhaps even unthinkingly, on one’s phone, and suddenly sees an act of murderous violence as a video plays automatically.
Particularly in the last few weeks, with footage of the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, recently released; and then with the assassination of Charlie Kirk - political activist and committed Christian - while speaking at a campus event in Utah. We may be an ocean away, but we're connected enough for these tragedies to feature in our cultural conversation, not least when they are played and replayed on our screens.