Does the resurrection make a difference?

Apr 10, 2021 by

Does the resurrection make a difference?

By Andrew Symes, Anglican Mainstream: In Matthew’s account of the resurrection, we’re given a tantalising brief description of how some Roman soldiers had an unexpected encounter with a supernatural being: “…an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it….the guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men”. Christ the incarnate son of God is held in the inescapable prison of death, with two powerful extra doors as...

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Power today: using the energy of how people feel to control how we should think

Mar 26, 2021 by

Power today: using the energy of how people feel to control how we should think

By Andrew Symes, Anglican Mainstream: A recent article by Brendan O’Neill on Spiked is a brilliant analysis of a key aspect of the revolutionary change affecting Western culture. If we want to understand what is behind some of the theological and ethical confusion in the church, “cancel culture” and campaigns to regulate speech and thought, the teaching of LGBT ideology to small children, and even the strong feelings elicited by the Oprah Winfrey interview with Meghan and Harry, The tyranny of...

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Increase in LGBT identity in the West, “herd mentality”, and the church’s response

Mar 1, 2021 by

Increase in LGBT identity in the West, “herd mentality”, and the church’s response

By Andrew Symes, Anglican Mainstream: On Saturday (27 February) veteran journalist Matthew Parris indicated his firm support for requiring children with gender dysphoria to wait until adulthood before undergoing life-changing hormone and surgery treatment. In an article in the Times [£] the columnist and presenter argued against a long-established trope of LGBT activists, that same sex attraction, and a ‘trans’ person’s sense that gender does not conform to biological sex, are innate and...

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New Anglican expression offers secure home and springboard for mission

Feb 23, 2021 by

New Anglican expression offers secure home and springboard for mission

By Andrew Symes, Anglican Mainstream: A new Anglican jurisdiction officially came into being on 22nd February, as the Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE) was commissioned by Archbishop Foley Beach in his capacity as Chairman of the Gafcon Primates’ Council. Nearly 200 clergy and lay people attended the online service of worship and prayer, preaching and fellowship which celebrated and inaugurated a new chapter in creative Anglican mission. The journey towards the formation of ACE began in...

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Being the bad guys

Feb 12, 2021 by

Being the bad guys

Andrew Symes reviews a new book by Stephen McAlpine: In his introduction, McAlpine briefly and simply traces how the perception of Christianity and Christians in society has shifted from being “the good guy” – the solution to what is bad, the foundation of law and morality – to being “one of the guys” i.e. one option among many, to “the bad guy”, seen as the problem. Most Christians haven’t yet accepted or adapted to this new reality; they are continuing to assume a “neutral space”...

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Let us pray

Feb 1, 2021 by

Let us pray

By Andrew Symes, Anglican Mainstream: The Archbishops have called for prayer. They suggest every day at 6pm. Cranmer is right to point out on his blog that it’s churlish to criticise this initiative because of disagreements over theology in other areas. The C of E leadership recognised towards the end of last year that in the early days of the pandemic they had prioritised a ‘health and safety’ message over a spiritual one; they have sought to rectify this. “We are in trouble; let us pray”,...

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