Word Alive and Well

Anyone wondering about the reason for Word Alive and Spring Harvest parting company could do worse than to have a look at this blog entry. It boils down to a sad, necessary, gospel-affirming, Christ-exalting stance taken by the Word Alive people on the cross.

Also, the Bluefish has helpfully blogged about current blogosphere activity on all this.

Did Jesus take our penalty on the cross? Does God justify and forgive sinners whilst establishing and magnifying his own justice and righteous wrath against sin? Is this penalty-bearing element of the cross worth struggling and contending for? These are the questions which, when answered with a joyful 'yes', have made this sad parting of the ways necessary.

I don't really have anything to contribute by way of new insights into the doctrine or what this says about the poverty of current UK evangelicalism. But I for one am extremely glad for the stance UCCF and others have taken over this issue. I am equally disappointed, angry, frustrated, confused and saddened by the lack of clarity and passion for this central plank in God's salvation amongst loads of evangelicals.

All that aside, New Word Alive looks like a great new alternative.

CUs in the Guardian

THIS article from the Guardian the other day is worth a read. It's by Richard Cunningham (Mr UCCF) and comments on the recent problems some CUs have been experiencing (see other posts with this label for more information).

Christian Unions in the press and in the dock

Three articles in the Times about what's been going on with various Christian Unions around the country.

This one and also this one are about potential legal action from various CUs against their unions.

This one is a comment on religious extremism and the place of religion in public life by Ruth Gledhill.

Three (not at all profound) thoughts off the back of those articles.

1. All of which seems to highlight the sort of times we are living in and the kinds of issues we are going to have to speak about carefully and clearly, lovingly and boldly. And be prepared to go to prison for.

2. Which in turn could be a good thing if it means Ruth Gledhill is correct and we are seeing an end to the days when religion could be put safely away in its box. I suspect this is probably not the case but it could be that we are seeing the start of such a change. And surely it would be better to be marginalised and despised and imprisoned for Christ than blandly ignored. Opposition has to be better than apathy. And a little more 'extremism' (both christian and secular) could be a good things if it means we are rescued from what Ruth Gledhill calls "woolly Anglican liberalism" and death-by-the-Archbishop's-nuances.

3. Most importantly, we should pray pray pray for our brothers and sisters in CUs and in UCCF.

The Pure Course under Fire

This is worth a look and a pray. Especially when we remember that often today's Student Union reps/Societies leaders are tomorrow's MPs.