The words 'witness' and 'testimony' have been much devalued, and are sometimes employed to describe what is little more than an essay in religious autobiography. But Christian witness is witness to Christ. And the Christ to whom we have a responsibility to witness is not merely the Christ of our personal experience, but the historic Christ, the Christ of apostolic testimony. There is no other Christ. So if Scripture leads to witness, witness also depends on Scripture.
Read moreGod's will to save. Let no-one say that the doctrine of election by the sovereign will and mercy of God, mysterious as it is, makes either evangelism or faith unnecessary. The opposite is the case. It is only because of God's gracious will to save that evangelism has any hope of success and faith becomes possible.
Read moreWhat Pope Benedict XVI did was approve a new church provision that will allow Anglicans to join the Catholic Church while maintaining many of their distinctive spiritual and liturgical traditions, including married priests, Cardinal William Levada, the Vatican's chief doctrinal official, told a news conference.
The Roman Catholic Church did not offer a Personal Prelature to Anglo-Catholics something which has only been granted once to the Opus Dei movement.
Read moreDialogue evangelism. Dialogue is neither a synonym nor a substitute for evangelism. Dialogue is a serious conversation in which we are prepared to listen and learn as well as to speak and teach. It is therefore an exercise in integrity. --- From "The Contemporary Christian" John R.W. Stott
Read moreThe Call to Evangelize (continued). Keeping our distance. Close contact with people involves an uncomfortable exposure of ourselves to them. It is much easier, in both fellowship and witness, to keep our distance. We are more likely to win the admiration of other people if we do. It is only at close quarters that idols are seen to have feet of clay. Are we willing to let people come close enough to us to find out what we are really like and to know us as we really are?
Read moreFact, doctrine and gospel. It is not enough to 'proclaim Jesus'. For there are many different Jesuses being presented today. According to the New Testament gospel, however, he is *historical* (he really lived, died, rose and ascended in the arena of history), *theological* (his life, death, resurrection and ascension all have saving significance) and *contemporary* (he lives and reigns to bestow salvation on those who respond to him).
Read moreDear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
September 24, 2009
It has been a week that orthodox Episcopalians and Anglicans might prayerfully remember as a watershed week in North American Anglicanism.
Read moreGod's church and Word. When Paul and Barnabas set out into the unknown on the first missionary journey, they found (as Abraham, Joseph and Moses had found before them) that God was with them. That is exactly what they reported on their return (Acts 14:27; 15:12). Indeed, this assurance is indispensable to mission. Change is painful to us all, especially when it affects our cherished buildings and customs, and we should not seek to change merely for the sake of change.
Read moreJesus is for all. Jesus is the light of the world. We cannot therefore keep him to ourselves. We dare not attempt to monopolize him. Christianity is inescapably and unashamedly a missionary faith. --- From "The Canticles and Selected Psalms" John R. W. Stott
Read moreThe Evangelical Tradition. In the end what matters most of all to an evangelical is not a label, nor an epithet. It is not a party ticket; it is not even in the end the Bible and the gospel. It is the honour and glory of Jesus Christ. --- From "What is an Evangelical?" John R.W. Stott
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
September 4, 2009