This was picked up and published in this month’s Kildare Echo so I thought I’d put it up here too. Enjoy!
Article in Kildare Echo – Oct 2012
RTG 10: The Gospel as it used to be
The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican is widely recognised as one of the great triumphs in human artistic endeavour. Painted from 1508 to 1512, Michelangelo’s striking portrayal of the creation, fall and destruction of humankind by the flood has evoked enormous praise for its interpretative and creative genius. […]
RTG 9: Rediscovering the World – the yeast of Separatism
“Come ye out from among them and be ye separate.” 2 Cor 6:17
I first encountered the ‘doctrine’ of separation, or non-fellowship as it is also known, during my early attempts to join a local church. Such was its hold in one I attended that the church leaders there not only refused to socialise with their non-Christian colleagues outside of work, they would also not even eat with them whilst in work…
RTG 8: Rediscovering the Kingdom – the yeast of Platonism
The teaching of the Greek Philosopher Plato has been, and remains, the most dominant and influential philosophy in western history. Even though few of us spend much time pondering his work; even though many of us might struggle to know the difference between him and the former ninth planet in our universe, every one of […]
RTG 7: Rediscovering Community – the yeast of Individualism
Unlike some of the other ‘isms’ we are discussing in this little series of blogs, ‘individualism’ is such an accepted and fully integrated element in our modern Irish culture that it is often difficult to even notice its presence any more never mind appreciate its influence. The joy-robbing severity of legalism and jarring anger of […]
RTG 6: Rediscovering Reconciliation: The Yeast of Sectarianism
Without question, there are many significant challenges involved in the planting of new churches. Yet, over these first years of MCC’s history, I have also discovered that engaging in mission in a completely new context, where nothing can be assumed and where people are rightly sceptical about many of your intentions, is also a place […]
RTG 5 : Rediscovering Grace: The yeast of Legalism
“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees.” Matt 16:6 Having explained why I believe we need to revisit what the Gospel is, let me jump right in and state that I think the first and most important yeast we need to free ourselves from is that of […]
RTG 4: Strangers in our House
‘When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.’ When I was young, I was always enthralled by Lewis Carroll’s wonderful imagination and the amazing twists and turns it allowed him to build into every page of his writing. Like […]
RTG 3: The Causes of our Decline
Why is it that the number of those involved in local churches in Ireland today is reducing so quickly? For over a decade now, I have read articles and books on this subject and there seems to be widespread agreement around a twofold answer to the question. More times than not, the demise of the […]
RTG2: Facing our Blind Spots
(Please note that RTG part 1, the introduction to this series can be found here.) During my student days, I had the great privilege of spending almost a year in the wonderful but troubled island of Jamaica. It is a place of almost indescribable natural beauty in which the extremes of poverty and wealth sadly […]