It shouldn't be a surprise. It's the logical - if unusually extreme - end point of the argument. A group of ethicists have now come out and said it: if it's right to abort children before they are born, it can't be wrong to abort them immediately after their birth.
Their argument goes like this. A person only has value if they know they have value. A foetus doesn't have that awareness. Nor does a new-born. So neither have an inherent right to life. Parents - who do have value because of their self-awareness - may feel trapped into keeping a child who is unexpectedly disabled, or who is simply not what they want any more, and their rights should trump the baby's. The parents should have a right to end the child's life.... continue reading
The Bible TV series to air on Channel Five this autumn
Rick Warren's son lost in 'wave of despair'
WEA Makes Call for Help for Syrian Christians; 2.3M Christians Flee in Mass Exodus From Syria
Bishop at centre of Falklands upset will preach the funeral sermon
Bible Burning Spreads to Another Former Soviet State
Church of England gives blessing to recognising civil partnerships
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After 5 excellent days, The Gospel Coalition conference in Florida has come to an end. Various members of The Good Book Company team are on planes either returning back to the UK or the Washington offices. And they are encouraged. They're very encouraged to have spent time talking with and serving so many gospel-hearted people. Here are just a few of their highlights:
Tim Thornborough (Managing Director): My highlight has been meeting humble, godly, passionate pastors from all across the US, who struggle with, pretty much, the same issues that most church pastors do in the UK. I've been so inspired by the desire of Christians here to do great, ambitious things for the Kingdom of God. One friend observed to me that he thought the US church was a "sleeping giant that gets distracted by irrelevant issues every time it starts to wake up." The movement embodied by The Gospel Coalition (TGC) and like-minded organisation Together for the Gospel (T4G) are doing brilliant work to change this around. I'm praying that they are successful.
Brad Byrd (US Ministry Director): My highlight? Definitely the youth panel discussion moderated by Tim Challies which included some Good Book Company and Christianity Explored guys. And the meetings we've had with potential authors have been great.
James Burstow (Commercial Director): So much to choose from. There was being part of the Gettys' live album recording. I was four rows from the front so was virtually a backing singer! Kevin DeYoung's talk on Jesus and the Lost which was brilliant. And hearing numerous reports from US Christians of how our resources are supporting gospel ministry in their churches - such an encouragement.
Carl Laferton (Senior Editor): It has been a huge encouragement to remember that the US evangelical church doesn't have something we're missing. They do Bible-centred Jesus glorifying teaching and evangelism. So do we. And it's exciting to be partners in this. It's been similarly inspiring (and challenging) to see the immense humility of men with huge congregations and massive influence. And on a less spiritual note ... it's been great being able to eat burgers and call it immersing myself in the culture. Nice!
A little over a year ago British sports fans, and many others as well, were captivated by the story of the footballer who “died” and came back to life. Fabrice Muamba, a professional footballer with Premier League Bolton Wanderers, had a heart attack on the pitch. The match was abandoned, but the TV cameras stayed on as thousands watched medics try to restart Muamba’s heart. By the time they succeeded, he had been technically “dead” for 78 minutes.
In time, Muamba made a good recovery, though he had to retire from football. So how does he see those events of last year? A recent interview with The Times newspaper gives a fascinating insight. Here are a few quotes from the article (sadly not available online unless you have a Times subscription, in which case you can find it here).... continue reading
1. The Gospel Coalition National Conference Live
Watch the conference live from Orlando, US.
2. Doctrine Matters (Free eBook on Ten Theological Trademarks)
A free e-book from Desiring God and John Piper, 'Doctrine Matters'.
3. 32 People to Follow on Twitter
Dan Green recommends thirty-two people to follow on Twitter.
4. My Top 35 Blogs to Read
Dan Green also recommends thirty-five Christian blogs to read.
5. And finally…
Our video of the week, 'Watch Me!' from 2v Studios:
Found something that you think should make it on to the On to a Good Thing round-up? Send it to: ontoagoodthing@thegoodbook.co.uk
Something strange happened at the resurrection. I hadn't seen it before, but once the question came to mind, it made sense of a puzzling feature of the first Easter morning. The question is this:
Why did the Lord Jesus not just appear to those who arrived at the tomb first?
He had promised that he would rise. He had actually risen. But the women were greeted, not by the Risen Lord, but by angels and an empty tomb.
And the next incident in Luke tells how the disciples on the Road to Emmaus were joined later that day by a mysterious stranger - the Risen Lord was hidden from their recognition. Why did he just not appear to them with a great fanfare? Why the strange "secrecy" over an event that is in such a central part of the plan of God and the Gospel proclamation?... continue reading
It's not an easy task. It's a decision over which many tears are shed. Because it's important to get it right: Which song would you sing at a loved one's funeral?
Recently, the Telegraph published the most commonly sung (or listened to) songs at cremations and burials. And it's a list that makes for interesting reading.
Unsurprisingly, there are songs that express the pain of loss ("Time to say goodbye") and the desire to remember the person who has died with ongoing affection ("Unforgettable" or "My heart will go on"). There are hints of acknowledgement that the departed may go to another place which is spiritual ("Angels" and "Over the rainbow") and where there is the possibility of being reunited in the future ("You'll never walk alone" and "We'll meet again"). There are tunes that seek to engender strength within those who are left behind ("You raise me up"). All of which, partially and imperfectly, glimpse the biblical truths that bereavement is tough and that this life is not all there is - there is a community of life beyond the grave.... continue reading
As for me, I shall always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long – though I know not how to relate them all. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvellous deeds. Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.
Psalm 71:14-18
As someone who has a love for stories, films and drama, I have been wrestling with a creeping suspicion over the last decade. It's a doubt that the stories about Jesus - and particularly about his death and resurrection - are just one more form of a "story type" that exists in a huge number of forms in all cultures, and which certainly predates the New Testament. Stories about gods dying and rising seem to be quite common throughout the world.
You see it in the Egyptian myth of Osiris; the Norse myth of Baldr; the Aztec feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl; and even the Japanese story of Izanami. Wikipedia has an article on the theme or "trope" of dying and rising Gods that charts the extensive "lookalike Christ's" throughout history and culture.... continue reading
This year, The Gospel Coalition National Conference (starting in the US on Monday 8th April) is going to be focusing on Jesus' mission in the Gospel of Luke. It looks as if it's going to be a great conference and if you're interested you can follow events at the conference using #TGC13. To mark the start of the conference The Good Book Company in partnership with The Gospel Coalition are offering a free series of daily devotionals based on Luke for your mobile device.
The Good Book Company's Explore App offers devotionals for your phone or pad so you can study God's word wherever you are and whenever you want. Each study will refresh and encourage your walk with the lord as it points you to His word. Explore doesn't simply tell you about a passage of scripture - it takes you into the passage, through a mixture of questions about the text, short summaries and helpful links to other parts of the Bible. Then it helps you bring the passage into your own life through application and prayer pointers. It's ideal for anyone wanting to continue, add to or re-establish a good habit of reading the Bible every day. Each devotional is suited for new Christians and more mature believers, and comes with the passage and any cross-references attached and is based on the ESV translation. Users can either choose dated material, which works through the whole Bible in around seven years; or to download devotionals on a particular book of the Bible. Contributors include Timothy Keller, Mark Dever, Graham Beynon, Christopher Ash, Mike McKinley and Tim Thornborough.
The Explore series on the Gospel of Luke, written by The Good Book Company's Senior Editor Carl Laferton, comprises 105 studies. Until the end of June you can download the first 35 for free, and be thrilled, for the first or thousandth time, by the Lord Jesus and His life, love, words and deeds. To access your 35 free devotionals. search for "Explore Bible" in the App Store or Google Play, download the app and then in the "Read" section select "TGC Luke 1 - 9"
As a taster, you can access pdfs of the first three studies here.
