calvins-urbanreform

To some feminism and feminist theology (FT) revolves around a bunch of women wanting to have their turn in church leadership. Yet if you scratch the surface a little more you will see a sinister and ugly monster that does significant harm to Biblical Christianity. The doctrine that cops the most damage in FT is the Trinity. Why?
FT basically espouses that historical Christianity is male centred and hierarchical. This 'patriarchal religion' treats women as a second class citizen and is therefore abusive to women. FT despises any form of patriarchy and seeks to establish 'equality', where everyone is the same. Yet the contradictions of FT are evident when they begin to do theology. This is becasue the starting point for doing theology, according to FT, is experience. But not just any experience, the experience that is unique to women. Their experience defines Christianity. What is the result? Well basically God is not seen as holy and transcendant (distinct from the world) and He cannot be spoken of with masculine titles (He, King, Father etc.). God is seen as moving and changing with the world, a world that is becoming and reaching its ultimate perfection in itself. God is no longer a relational or personal God but an impersonal force that has no clue about the future and cannot intervene to stop the world from running its course. Furthermore, God can and ought to be addressed as Mother or God/dess. The Trinity can also be spoken of as Mother, Child, Womb.
So what is the problem with using feminine titles for God? Firstly, If we take the Bible to be God's revelation of Himself and His dealings with His creation, and if the Bible is our final authority then we know that God has not revealed himself in feminine titles. Jesus himself was a male and spoke of God as His Father (read all of John's gospel). Secondly, God is transcendant and therefore cannot have gender as gender is bound up with creation (God is not created, He is creator). Thirdly, experience does not define Christianity as we all have different experiences and the result would be a Christianity that is suitable to each person which would contradict itself and therefore be completely false and not worth believing. Fourthly, the Trinity reveals that God is a personal God who relates within the three persons. He is not some impersonal force. Finally, God is transcendant; He is not moving and changing with the world, but remains distinct from the world and has authority over the world.
Yet He is a personal God who relates to us, which is especially evident in the incarnation - God in Jesus Christ dwelling among His people to save His people. Check out The Resurgence for more on this topic.

Over the past few months, the Christian community in Perth has been privileged to hear great evangelical speakers such as Don Carson and John Chapman. This week we have the pleasure to hear Chris Wright come and speak in reation to the Langham Partnership (LP). LP is an international organization that seeks to train and equip people to teach and preach God's word throughout the world, particularly in the Third World. Well known theologian and author John Stott was the founder of LP and he dedicates much of his book's royalties to this mission. Chris Wright is the International Ministries Director who shall be speaking this week at Trinity Theological College (Friday, 12.45 - 1.45pm). He will be speaking on the topic: Israel, the Nations and the Future in Biblical Perspective. For more info check out the links above; also check out the LP events calender. Do try to get along and hear Chris speak; if you have any queries feel free to ask me by posting in the comments.

I decided a few months ago to get a part-time job. My intentions weren't just for some extra cash but to widen my networks of non-Christian friends. Being part of a church community and studying fulltime at theo college I don't get a lot of exposure to non-Christians. So I got a job in a coffee shop back in July. It didn't take long, however, to find out that two people were Christians (and studied theology a few years back). Then a third person revealed that they too were a Christian (and a good friend of a friend). Not long after, a fourth person said to me that they were interested in becoming a school chaplain. Then just the other day a fifth person said they were going to do their prac at a Christian school (they are also going out with a Christian family friend). After I asked, they did say they too were a Christian. So God does have a sense of humour and it is great to know there is a lot of Christians working there. Yet there is still room for gospel discussion with others. Please pray for me to have boldness to speak and to live out the gospel at work.

Friday night comes around and you've had a hard week at work. You make your way home, open the fridge for an afternoon snack and see your name down as the organiser for tonight's youth program. The theme: Mock Olympics. You grab all the sporting gear you have, down some grub, make a few phone calls and head out the door....Everything is set to go and the kids start pouring in. It's as though they've consumed every preservative under the sun as they are fired up for the night...All goes well, they enjoyed the games. Before supper takes place it's time for the "Bible Talk". What will I say to them tonight? I don't want to take my Bible cause it will alienate the new kids! I don't want to be to heavy as the kids are tired and don't concentrate at this time!

Ever been caught in this situation? It seems to be a classic model of Youth Group these days and has been for a while now. We think that we need to entertain kids to get them in the church building so that we can share the gospel. But then the gospel isn't proclaimed as it may cause offense. So Friday night becomes a babysitting night for teenagers to keep them from doing worse stuff. It must be said that I am making gross generalisations; however, it is not far from many youth ministries in churches today.

Surely there are better ways of running a youth ministry if your goal is for them to hear and respond to the gospel. If we continue to entertain kids to get them in we implicitly teach them that the Bible is no fun and the gospel is the second class citizen next to games.

Part Two soon