Since its beginnings in a Greenwich Village bar in 1969, the gay liberation movement has snowballed into a social force which is changing the basic values and structures of our society, from the family right through to state institutions. For example, legislation pending in the United States Congress proposes to fully legitimise homosexuality as a sanctioned alternative lifestyle.
Archives: life
Is homosexuality next?
Life, Sola Panel
It was the speed at which it happened. That’s what surprised most people.
For quite some time, when the talk over coffee drifted towards the O-debate, there was always someone who said, in a knowing voice, “And you know what the next thing’ll be?”
The end of quiet times
Life
To be an evangelical Christian is to be a Bible reader. Our piety insists on personal, family and public Bible reading, even if the statistics suggest that our commitment to reading Scripture may be a part of evangelical mythology.1 Anyone who has the gall to ask “Do we really need to read the Bible?” deserves to be ex-communicated as a heretic and infidel and is certainly not a fit person to hold a publican’s license!
What to pray (Prayer Part IV)
Life
It was, as they say in the classics, a dark and stormy night. My wife gently nudged me, and then after a time, not-so-gently nudged me again. It was 4 a.m., and water was dripping onto our bed. In the dark and cold, I tried to move the bed.
How can we pray? (Prayer Part III)
Life
Most books on prayer (the Bible excluded) give plenty of advice about how, when and where to pray. The Bible’s lack of detail on the matter is revealing, but perhaps rather frustrating for 20th Century would-be pray-ers. We are rather interested in details, and are keen to listen to anyone who has a new theory or technique that we think might boost our flagging spirits.
Why we don’t pray (Prayer Part II)
Life
It was 6:54 am. Peter checked to make sure he had everything. It was all there: the bonded leather, cross-reference, chain-reference, words of Christ in green, NIV Eco-Bible; the notepad with personal prayer points arranged by day and subject; his church prayer diary; his missionary prayer diary; his worldwide student ministry prayer diary; his lectionary edition of An Anglican Prayer Book; and in case all else failed, the Jesus Person Pocket-Book of Life-Changing Bible Promises.
Why do we pray? (Prayer Part I)
Life
The living God who hears
Life
Social scientists tell us that most Australians believe in a god—a god who is behind it all. But unfortunately, this god doesn’t seem able to do anything in the 20th century. He or ‘it’ may have got the show started, and he may even be there at the final curtain to see if people have paid for their seats. But during the performance, he remains hidden in the wings, strangely silent.
Re-igniting the Spirit of prayer
Life
Undressing pornography
Life
Lead balloon: I Want the Best for My Kids
Life
Inspired by an article in Briefing #51 called ‘Starving our Children’, one of our readers sent in this Lead Balloon.
Lead balloons: ideas only slightly too outrageous to be taken seriously.
How to read the Bible
Life
A few words need to be said about the nature of Scripture. This is not an article on exegesis. Nevertheless, because the issue of women in ministry is one that we need to solve by looking at the Bible, we need to be clear about how we are going to read Scripture. Two points may be made.
Lead balloon: Motherhood and Apple Pie
Life
Lead balloons: ideas only slightly too outrageous to be taken seriously.
Recently, Mr Hawke has passed Mr Fraser as the second longest-serving Prime Minister in the history of Australia. It has not been as tumultuous a reign as Mr Whitlam’s, but Mr Hawke has led our nation through a time of rapid social change. Some of it has been for the better and some for the worse—as is the character of social change—but we can rejoice that we continue to be governed in peace and quietness, and are free to meet and to get on with our work of preaching the gospel. It is important that we follow the injunction of the apostle and continue to pray for those in authority.
Where have all the false teachers gone?
Life
At the Last Supper, Jesus warns his disciples that there will be constant conflict between those who are his and those who are of “the world”. He reminds them through his prayer that “the world has hated them because they are not of the world any more than I am of the world” (John 17:15).
The Riddle of Barbara Thiering
Life, Sola Panel
Having offended Moslems by taking the unusual step of stocking The Satanic Verses in its bookshops, the ABC has taken on another of the world’s major religions by screening The Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls on Palm Sunday, April 8. That leaves just Judaism and Buddhism—so watch for documentaries which claim that Buddha was just an overweight incense salesman, and that Moses (whose real name was Chris) lived in the 5th century AD and wrote the entire Old Testament to justify his dislike for sweet and sour pork.