Comments for Matthew's Lectern http://matthewhenderson.org Word...Spirit...Mission Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:25:41 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on If God exists and he is a loving God why is there so much pain and suffering in the world?- guest post by Katie Finch by matthewhenderson http://matthewhenderson.org/2010/03/09/if-god-exists-and-he-is-a-loving-god-why-is-there-so-much-painand-suffering-in-the-world-guest-post-by-katie-finch/#comment-54 matthewhenderson Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:25:41 +0000 http://matthewhenderson.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/if-god-exists-and-he-is-a-loving-god-why-is-there-so-much-painand-suffering-in-the-world-guest-post-by-katie-finch/#comment-54 Can't take any credit for it Derek. All KT's work! Can’t take any credit for it Derek. All KT’s work!

]]> Comment on If God exists and he is a loving God why is there so much pain and suffering in the world?- guest post by Katie Finch by Derek Cooper http://matthewhenderson.org/2010/03/09/if-god-exists-and-he-is-a-loving-god-why-is-there-so-much-painand-suffering-in-the-world-guest-post-by-katie-finch/#comment-53 Derek Cooper Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:55:43 +0000 http://matthewhenderson.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/if-god-exists-and-he-is-a-loving-god-why-is-there-so-much-painand-suffering-in-the-world-guest-post-by-katie-finch/#comment-53 Great post Matthew and Katie! Great post Matthew and Katie!

]]> Comment on Building for the Gospel- the fund-raising begins! by Melissa Reed http://matthewhenderson.org/2010/03/04/building-for-the-gospel-the-fund-raising-begins/#comment-50 Melissa Reed Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:28:05 +0000 http://matthewhenderson.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/building-for-the-gospel-the-fund-raising-begins/#comment-50 How exciting! Are you remodeling or adding onto your building or is this a completely separate project? Godspeed in your efforts and his Kingdom work! How exciting! Are you remodeling or adding onto your building or is this a completely separate project? Godspeed in your efforts and his Kingdom work!

]]> Comment on Openly and practicing homosexual minister in the Church of Scotland- should we be concerned? by matthewhenderson http://matthewhenderson.org/2009/05/01/openly-and-practicing-homosexual-minister-in-the-church-of-scotland-should-we-be-concerned/#comment-46 matthewhenderson Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:16:23 +0000 http://matthewhenderson.org/?p=46#comment-46 Hi Debbie and thanks so much for your comments. The coverup of sexual offences by clergy is an absolute scandal. Part of the problem for more catholic type churches is that they believe that once someone is "ordained" then they can't be "unordained" and so they are left with the question of what to do with an "ordained" sex offender. I don't believe in ordination at all and I would happily see them dismissed from their positions. At Gerrard Street, we have a number of pastoral staff and any one of us would be immediately dismissed if sexual offences or inappropriate sexual acts occurred. This would be true of both heterosexual or homosexual behaviour. So I can't really defend other churches, but can assure you that at the church where I serve we genuinely believe that elders of the church must be "husbands of one wife". With regard to our view of homosexuality, I am aware that it is not the mainstream view in the West anymore. However, we base our morality principally upon the teaching of the Bible. And the Bible really couldn't be clearer on the question of homosexual behaviour. Just to be clear, we do not believe that those with homosexual leanings are somehow "condemned", but rather that the Bible prohibits homosexual practice (just as it prohibits <strong>all</strong> sex outside of marriage). Jesus died for us all and that includes those with homosexual leanings. In this post, I am simply expressing my understanding of the Christian position, informed by the Bible, into a situation where the church seems to have lost its way. Hi Debbie and thanks so much for your comments.

The coverup of sexual offences by clergy is an absolute scandal. Part of the problem for more catholic type churches is that they believe that once someone is “ordained” then they can’t be “unordained” and so they are left with the question of what to do with an “ordained” sex offender. I don’t believe in ordination at all and I would happily see them dismissed from their positions.

At Gerrard Street, we have a number of pastoral staff and any one of us would be immediately dismissed if sexual offences or inappropriate sexual acts occurred. This would be true of both heterosexual or homosexual behaviour. So I can’t really defend other churches, but can assure you that at the church where I serve we genuinely believe that elders of the church must be “husbands of one wife”.

With regard to our view of homosexuality, I am aware that it is not the mainstream view in the West anymore. However, we base our morality principally upon the teaching of the Bible. And the Bible really couldn’t be clearer on the question of homosexual behaviour.

Just to be clear, we do not believe that those with homosexual leanings are somehow “condemned”, but rather that the Bible prohibits homosexual practice (just as it prohibits all sex outside of marriage). Jesus died for us all and that includes those with homosexual leanings.

In this post, I am simply expressing my understanding of the Christian position, informed by the Bible, into a situation where the church seems to have lost its way.

]]> Comment on Openly and practicing homosexual minister in the Church of Scotland- should we be concerned? by Debbie http://matthewhenderson.org/2009/05/01/openly-and-practicing-homosexual-minister-in-the-church-of-scotland-should-we-be-concerned/#comment-45 Debbie Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:22:59 +0000 http://matthewhenderson.org/?p=46#comment-45 Your comments horrify me. What of the deviant sexual behaviour within the Church (and I refer specifically to ministers who indulge in this behaviour. Yes, there are many of them) which is tolerated and covered up because it is "heterosexual". The bigotry horrifies me. May God forgive you. I am heterosexual by the way. I am sick of the "old Boys Club" that is the hierarcy of the Church today Your comments horrify me. What of the deviant sexual behaviour within the Church (and I refer specifically to ministers who indulge in this behaviour. Yes, there are many of them) which is tolerated and covered up because it is “heterosexual”. The bigotry horrifies me. May God forgive you. I am heterosexual by the way. I am sick of the “old Boys Club” that is the hierarcy of the Church today

]]> Comment on Why I’m an environmentalist- Part 2 by Jo Wilson http://matthewhenderson.org/2010/02/16/why-im-an-environmentalist-part-2/#comment-43 Jo Wilson Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:41:08 +0000 http://matthewhenderson.org/?p=152#comment-43 Thanks for that Matthew - it's refreshing to read a well thought-out post from a theological perspective without getting tangled up in scientific arguments. Although I happen to think science does provide compelling, logical evidence for both the damage we do to our planet and the good things we can do to help it, you are right: whilst we can affect the world around us (whether for God's glory or for our own selfish purposes), ultimately it is God's world, not ours. He is in control. However, we do have responsibilities in how we best steward the resources which God gives us. What we do to look after our planet is a justice issue as much as anything else: the poor of this world are the worst affected by changes in climate - more storms/hurricanes, unpredictable rains, failing harvests, rising sea levels, desertification, etc - and this is happening NOW. J Thanks for that Matthew – it’s refreshing to read a well thought-out post from a theological perspective without getting tangled up in scientific arguments. Although I happen to think science does provide compelling, logical evidence for both the damage we do to our planet and the good things we can do to help it, you are right: whilst we can affect the world around us (whether for God’s glory or for our own selfish purposes), ultimately it is God’s world, not ours. He is in control.

However, we do have responsibilities in how we best steward the resources which God gives us. What we do to look after our planet is a justice issue as much as anything else: the poor of this world are the worst affected by changes in climate – more storms/hurricanes, unpredictable rains, failing harvests, rising sea levels, desertification, etc – and this is happening NOW.

J

]]> Comment on Why I’m an environmentalist- Part 1 by Iain http://matthewhenderson.org/2010/02/02/why-im-an-environmentalist-part-1/#comment-42 Iain Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:09:32 +0000 http://matthewhenderson.org/?p=122#comment-42 Matthew, thanks for articulating so well the reasons I am frustrated with my own environmentalist bent! You're reasons why you are not are laid out really well and I think all Christians who are thinking on this issue should read your post. Facebook share coming up! Look forward to part 2. Matthew, thanks for articulating so well the reasons I am frustrated with my own environmentalist bent! You’re reasons why you are not are laid out really well and I think all Christians who are thinking on this issue should read your post. Facebook share coming up! Look forward to part 2.

]]> Comment on Why I’m an environmentalist- Part 1 by Jo Wilson http://matthewhenderson.org/2010/02/02/why-im-an-environmentalist-part-1/#comment-40 Jo Wilson Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:23:26 +0000 http://matthewhenderson.org/?p=122#comment-40 Good stuff Matthew, looking forward to the 2nd half... In the meantime, here's my take on it: http://dldown.bandcamp.com/track/economology (lyrics here: http://www.dldown.co.uk/lyr_eco.htm ) J Good stuff Matthew, looking forward to the 2nd half…

In the meantime, here’s my take on it: http://dldown.bandcamp.com/track/economology (lyrics here: http://www.dldown.co.uk/lyr_eco.htm )
J

]]> Comment on Bah Humbug! Should Christians celebrate Christmas? by Jackie Durkee http://matthewhenderson.org/2009/12/11/bah-humbug-should-christians-celebrate-christmas/#comment-35 Jackie Durkee Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:28:50 +0000 http://matthewhenderson.wordpress.com/2009/12/11/bah-humbug-should-christians-celebrate-christmas/#comment-35 Christmas is a wonderful time of year that we can celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for this post and may everyone stop and ponder how great and wonderful the incarnate is. He IS the reason for the season. FaithfulThoughtSpot - a devotional site here at wordpress. Christmas is a wonderful time of year that we can celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for this post and may everyone stop and ponder how great and wonderful the incarnate is. He IS the reason for the season.

FaithfulThoughtSpot – a devotional site here at wordpress.

]]> Comment on Bah Humbug! Should Christians celebrate Christmas? by David Todd http://matthewhenderson.org/2009/12/11/bah-humbug-should-christians-celebrate-christmas/#comment-34 David Todd Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:10:32 +0000 http://matthewhenderson.wordpress.com/2009/12/11/bah-humbug-should-christians-celebrate-christmas/#comment-34 Amen! I'm trying very hard to preach incarnation sermons and not Easter sermons this year. There is so much to celebrate and learn from Emmanuel. I've been guilty of focussing too much on the cross (if that is possible!) and have missed out on the wonder of God becoming man! Thanks for your blog Matthew, it's a tonic. Love to you, Bethany, Dannielle and Rachel. David & Judy x Amen!

I’m trying very hard to preach incarnation sermons and not Easter sermons this year. There is so much to celebrate and learn from Emmanuel. I’ve been guilty of focussing too much on the cross (if that is possible!) and have missed out on the wonder of God becoming man!

Thanks for your blog Matthew, it’s a tonic.

Love to you, Bethany, Dannielle and Rachel.

David & Judy
x

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