WHAT'S A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE USE OF PERMANENT BIRTH CONTROL MEASURES? PART I

One of the most sensitive topics in Christian circles today is the topic of fertility. Although children are widely seen as a blessing from God, the choice to prevent any (or more) children by way of voluntary surgical sterilisation is not a topic most people are comfortable discussing over tea. It is seen as a personal choice that does not and should not involve anyone else outside of the marriage. However, this means that a couple struggling with whether or not to choose this option has very few outlets or sources of information; the internet is loaded with articles on the health implications of surgical sterilisation but is silent for the most part on the spiritual ethics and morality of sterilisation. Hopefully this article will help fill in that gap just a little.

     In the first of a two part article, KATHERINE BORN takes a look at the issue of voluntary sterilisation... | more...|

WHAT'S A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE USE OF PERMANENT BIRTH CONTROL MEASURES? PART II

With this foundation, let us look at why a Christian couple might be looking into voluntary self-sterilisation.

     Health. When a couple is told by doctors that having any more children could be detrimental to the health of the wife, who can argue? It would be considered the height of selfishness for a man in this situation to refuse to use reliable birth control. Conversely, getting a vasectomy is seen (and done) as an act of love. However, because surgical self-sterilisation is not without health risks (see here for one example) all other methods of birth control should be considered first.

     Fear. To be honest, most couples considering this option are looking into it because they do not want any more children. Fear is really the motivating factor - fear that if they leave it up to God, He will give them more children than they want or can handle. Many look at other families, who don't use any birth control, and assume that they would “suffer the same fate.” In the US, the Duggar family, now on their 19th child, often comes to mind. This fear is not really logical. Women's fertility drops off between the ages of 29 to 35, then takes a nose dive in the late 30's - the average woman has only a 65 per cent chance of getting pregnant after one year of assiduously trying.

     In the second of a two part article, KATHERINE BORN examines the reasons people might have for voluntary sterilsation... | more...|

IS GOD STILL AT WORK IN THE WEST?

Is it really true that, when people travel to what we call the developing world such as much of Africa, they see God's Spirit move in powerful and miraculous ways which we don't often see in the affluent West?

     We live in a time which is the most materialistic in the history of humanity. In our culture, intellect rules. If you're smart you will go places; if your IQ is not up there you will most likely be consigned to life as a struggling labourer, constantly battling to make ends meet, and having to live out your days in the service of the born-to-rule elite, those clever people who were smart enough to be doctors and lawyers and are now living it up in a great big office. That's the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) message we have drummed into us every day.

     This type of thinking can be traced back to the days of the Enlightenment. The period of the Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, covered most of the 18th century. It was an age which “was characterised by the desire for a superior, more rational view of everything.” It was also a time when “respect for science and reason replaced the Christian faith as the cornerstone of Western culture.” Human reason was seen as the way to find ultimate truth, and the way to build a just and humane society. Enlightenment thinking struck at the very heart of Christian faith and the need for belief in a superior Being.

     NILS VON KALM takes a look at whether God is still at work in the western world... | more...|

DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT CALL JESUS GOD?

The vexed issue of who Jesus is, who He claimed to be, and who the New Testament writers claimed He was, is one that will never go away as long as humanity exists. The piece by Dr Vincent Taylor, from the January 1962 Expository Times - reproduced at John Mark Ministries website, is one more argument contributing to this fascinating debate.
      Taylor's argument is slightly different from the usual ones that make such assertions as 'Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God' or 'Jesus was not divine'. I note that Taylor is not denying the Divinity of Christ, and that he stresses that “it should be recognised at the outset that the question is not whether Jesus is divine, but whether He is actually described as THEOS and whether we...are justified in speaking of Him as 'God'.”

     In my mind there is not a lot of doubt that the New Testament calls Jesus God. This is seen not just in the Gospels, but in the letters of Paul, as well as in some of the other New Testament letters.

     NILS VON KALM explores the question of whether Jesus is God... | more...|

SHOULD A CHRISTIAN GO TO WAR?

In the first part of this article, we attempted to answer the question: Should a Christian go to war? Having established that the purpose of our very existence is to glorify God, we can now look at what kind of life the Bible calls us to and compare it to what is required in warfare and answer our question.

     Our current verse of reference is 1 Peter 2:21-23, which says “To this (suffering for doing good) you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow His steps. 'He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.' When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.”

     “Doing good” is a large subject, so we will only skim it here. It is a lifelong pursuit, after all, so we may spend the rest of our lives trying to attain to Christ's example. However, certain aspects can be pointed out. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matt 7:12) is a good yardstick for our behaviour, but we shall be more specific.

     KATHERINE BORN concludes her examination of whether a Christian should go to war... | more...|

PART ONE

In our day of raucous opinion sharing, debate and propaganda, being pro-war or anti-war or somewhere in between involves emotionally charged language that touches on some of our deepest-held feelings and beliefs about ourselves, our nation, our religion and our ideals. Political and religious leaders of all faiths use arguments of divine right, justice, justness and retribution to uphold their views. However, for Christians, that is, Christ's followers, the issue can be simplified to one question: Is this Christ's war?     

     In the first of a two part series, KATHERINE BORN takes a look at the issue of whether a Christian should go to war... | more...|

IS THERE A NEED FOR CHRISTIAN COUNSELLORS IN THE CHURCH?

In an ideal world there would be no need for Christian counsellors in the church. While this seems like a very black and white statement, unfortunately, the less than ideal nature of our world, impacted enormously by the sinful, fallen nature of mankind, does necessitate the ministry of Christian counsellors.

     In 1992 Barry Chant penned an article which correctly describes the Holy Spirit as the best and most effective counsellor. As the parakletos who performs the same work as Jesus (John 14:16), the Holy Spirit is indeed able to reveal God to man, illuminate the Word, and “be an agent of healing, encouragement, peace, love, forgiveness, enlightenment, strength, power, goodness, hope, joy, the presence of the Lord”. These aspects of the Spirit’s working are implicit in the meaning of parakletos, being comforter, supporter, advocate, helper, and significantly, counsellor. Given the fact that the Holy Spirit is not limited by time or space, His counsel is available to all at any time. Despite the availability of the Holy Spirit as the ultimate counsellor, however, there is still a need for Christian counsellors in the church for a number of reasons.

     RUSSELL STUBBINGS outlines why he believes Christian counsellors, guided by the Holy Spirit, are important in today's church... | more...|

WHY PRAY WHEN GOD ALREADY KNOWS OUR THOUGHTS?

I have had occasion over a number of years, in various capacities, to spend time assisting individuals and couples experiencing marriage and relationship difficulties.

     One such case springs to mind. Jack and Jill (yes, a rather unimaginative pair of pseudonyms) are a couple in their mid thirties, married for around ten years, with three young children. They both express concern that their relationship is not as it used to be, the spark is missing, there is a lack of intimacy and close connection, and they have grown apart. Both are concerned that they are reaching a crisis point, something needs to change or the marriage will disintegrate.

     Some probing reveals that life for Jack and Jill is busy. Jack works over 40 hours a week as a physiotherapist. Jill works part-time because one income is not enough to pay the mortgage and the other expenses that come with raising a family. Jill is the primary carer of the children, although both parents spend time driving the children to various sporting and musical pursuits. Life has become so busy that something is missing. Jack and Jill have very little time for each other, and the time they do get is often at night when both are worn out from the hectic activities of the day.

     RUSSELL STUBBINGS takes a look at the reason for prayer... | more...|

WHY DOESN'T SCRIPTURE ANSWER ALL OUR QUESTIONS?

I begin with frustration. Why doesn’t Scripture explicitly answer the questions which divide the church? It would have been so simple. Predestination, war, life’s beginning, the creation story’s genre, homosexuality’s cause, the ordination of women and so on are all things on which God must have an opinion. God could have made church unity much easier if He had given the writers of Scripture answers that were definitive and clear - or rather, answers that were definitive and clear enough to end our debates.

     People sometimes tell me that the Bible doesn’t answer our questions because they are only relevant to our time. But issues like, ‘how many copies of our CDs is it moral to make?’ are not the ones that divide the church. And it’s hard for me to imagine that most of the questions which do divide the church were ever not relevant.

     After a long time of wondering and annoyance, however, I think I’ve discovered why Scripture doesn’t answer all our questions. And I’ve realised that asking scripture our questions may actually be dangerous. Allow me to explain.

   MICAH TILLMAN takes a look at what questions the Bible does - and doesn't - answer ... | more...|

WHY DO MEN HAVE SO MUCH TROUBLE EXPRESSING THEIR EMOTIONS?

In his brilliant book, Manhood, Steve Biddulph tells the story of two men on neighbouring farms. These two men and their families have been neighbours for 30 years and have shared everything together over that time. They have fought bushfires, shared good times and bad, and cared for each other's wives and children as their own. Finally, after so many years, one of the families has to leave.

     As one of the men comes over to say goodbye to the other, their conversation goes like this:

"Well", says the mate. "I'll be off then."
"Yeah," says the other. "Thanks for coming over."
"Look us up sometime."
"Yeah, I reckon."

     They then climb into their vehicles and leave. And while their wives will correspond for years to come, these men will never exchange words again.

   I feel emotional as I write this. Why are us men so bad at showing our love for our friends, people with whom we share every part of our lives? How could these men, who could easily be you and me, part so awkwardly after sharing thirty years of their lives together? What is wrong in the hearts of men?

   NILS VON KALM takes a look behind the facade men put up... | more...|

WHY DO SO MANY CHRISTIANS SUFFER WITH DEPRESSION?

This really is one of life’s tough questions. Depression is one of the major health issues of the day, and despite the increasing publicity, many still suffer in relative silence without any formal diagnosis. Interestingly, depression is prevalent within Christian circles, a fact which some find surprising. But, is it really that surprising? Should Christians be in some sense immune from depression? Is it a reflection of one’s faith (or lack of), a sinful lifestyle, or a testing from God? Or, are there other reasons Christians suffer with depression?

      Prior to proceeding a disclaimer is warranted. What follows are my thoughts, based not on any expert status or psychological training, but rather from pastoral and workplace experience, research, and interactions with people struggling with depression. In no way is this attempt at exploring depression amongst the Christian population meant to offend.

   RUSSELL STUBBINGS tackles the sometimes controversial subject of why so many Christians suffer with depression... | more...|

UPDATE - SOUNDBITE: RUSSELL STUBBINGS responds to some of the issues raised in discussion following his article looking at why so many Christians suffer with depression...  | more...|

WHY SHOULD CHRISTIANS CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT?

Psalm 148 is a praise to God for everything that He made. That, if anything, is enough reason for people of faith to care for the environment. But it goes a lot deeper than that, and that is what I want to look at in this article.

      The last half of 2006 saw unprecedented coverage of the issue of climate change, as report after report was released warning us of the dangers of inaction. 2007 promises to be no different as we begin to learn to live with this reality. It will no doubt be an election issue as we most likely go to the polls later in the year. One of the reports released in 2006 was the Common Belief report which contained a number of statements from different faith groups emphasizing the moral imperative to tackle climate change. So, as Christians, collectively and individually, why should we care for the environment? Why should we be concerned about being green?

      While there are still people who disagree over the extent of climate change and whether or not it is happening as a result of human activity, more and more people are accepting that it is a current fact and that human actions since the beginning of the industrial revolution are playing a major part.

    NILS VON KALM takes a look at why Christians must do what they can to care for the environment around us... | more...|

ARE CHRISTIANS SUPPOSED BE RICH OR POOR?

The debate regarding Christians and wealth is one that can have a polarising effect. There are those who argue that Christians should be rich, that God wants to bless His people, and that being wealthy enables one to give generously to the poor and other worthy charities and projects. A prominent Australian Christian leader titles his book You Need More Money while a renowned evangelist who now runs a motivational speaking consultancy urges us to have “millionaire mindsets”. The message of prosperity is blared loudly from many pulpits throughout the Western world.

    But what does the Bible teach about wealth and riches? Does God want us to be rich or poor, or is the issue more about our attitude towards money? A balanced Christian perspective on this issue needs to reflect Biblical teachings about money and wealth, an understanding of God’s heart for the poor, and an ethical consideration of the vast gap in wealth between those fortunate enough to be born in developed countries such as the United States and Australia, and those born in Third World countries where poverty and suffering are a way of life.

     RUSSELL STUBBINGS gives his view on the issue of financial prosperity... | more...|

WHY AREN'T PEOPLE ALWAYS HEALED WHEN THEY'RE PRAYED FOR?

It’s a question believers have grappled with for centuries. The Bible seems clear on the issue. As believers we are told to “lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” (Mark 16:18). Given that healing the sick was a major part of the ministry of Jesus, why then do we so often fail to see the results of our prayers for the sick in terms of complete healing? If you are like me, this is a paradox. We want to believe and hold onto the Word of God, we want to see people healed and lives changed, and yet we can feel powerless and frustrated by the lack of results.

      There are a number of possible positions regarding this issue of healing. Firstly, that God no longer heals. A commonly held position in some churches is that healing was for the first century believers as a witness to the Gospel during the formative years of the church. This position stands against the overall weight of Scripture and the model and teachings of Jesus. It’s also refuted by those who have experienced God’s healing touch in their lives. Simply, too many people have been healed to credibly claim that God no longer heals. In fact, most would believe that not only can God heal, but He does heal today. The issue relates more to the frequency of healing, not God’s ability or willingness.

     RUSSELL STUBBINGS takes a look at one of the issues that Christians have been wrestling with down throughout the ages... | more...|

DO MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN?

In the light of the terrific news about the two miners who were recently saved at Beaconsfield, no one can deny that miracles still happen today.

      But wait a minute, that is a kind of miracle, yes, but not a real miracle. A really 'long-shot' wonderful outcome like the miners being found and saved, is one thing, but when something happens that is not possible to happen scientifically - now that would be a real miracle. Right?

      Do those kind of miracles happen today? Have they ever happened?

      Clearly they have happened in the past. Jesus rose from the dead. That is not logical or possible under the normal constraints of science. Jesus made a blind man see; a leper be suddenly cleansed; He stopped a storm by speaking to it; he fed 5,000 people with a few loaves and fish. The apostles did similar things: bitten by a deadly snake but not being affected; raising people from the dead; healing cripples who had never walked.

     JIM REIHER takes a look at whether miracles still happen today... | more...|

SHOULD CHURCH MEMBERS ALWAYS FOLLOW AND OBEY CHURCH LEADERS?
There are two Scriptures that clearly do instruct and encourage us to follow and obey our church leaders: Hebrews 13:7 and I Peter 5:5. It is a good thing to get behind the leadership team of a local church and work with them.

      But there will be times when a church member will not agree with everything that is being said or done. On many such occasions, it is reasonable to bend a bit and go with the flow - so long as you are not hurting your conscience or principles as a result. (And on many issues - let’s be honest here - there is no real huge issue at stake as much as personal preference).

      But there will be times when it is an issue of principal or conscience. In such cases you can not obey.

     JIM REIHER says there can be occasions when people need to weigh up carefully whether to obey church leaders but they need to tread carefully when doing so... | more... |

WHY DIDN'T JESUS HAVE ANY WOMEN APOSTLES? DOES THAT PROVE FINAL AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH MUST BE MALE?

If one criticism is heard time and again, to keep women as a gender group out of leadership in the church, it is this one: Jesus had only male apostles. Therefore, men are meant to be the final authority in the earthly expression of the Kingdom of God. David Wetherell, for example, writes about Jesus: “Although his attitude to women was different from that of others, he did not appoint any women among the apostles...The fact is, that Christ, already unprecedented in his social teaching and out of step with his time and culture, could have appointed women apostles, but did not do so”.

      This is an important question to think about. We apparently can not explain Jesus choosing just male apostles, simply as an act that was culturally appropriate - after all, Jesus was to break all kinds of culturally appropriate norms in the days ahead! So why not break one here too - if God's will is for women and men to be leaders in the church, why not state that from the beginning?

      In an extract from his latest book - Women, Leadership and the Church, JIM REIHER takes a look at the issue with regard to Jesus' 12 apostles... | more... |

WHAT IS THE APOCRYPHA AND HOW COME PROTESTANT CHRISTIANS DON'T USE IT?

The Apocrypha is the title we give a collection of books, and parts of books, that Roman Catholics have in their Old Testament, but which Protestants usually reject as not being the Word of God. It is, specifically, a collection of a dozen books or additions to books. It includes some famous ones, like: First and Second Maccabees, the Wisdom of Solomon, Judith, Tobit, Ecclesiasticus (not Ecclesiastes which is in the Protestant Bible), and additions to the books of Daniel and Esther. It is all about extra Old Testament books and writings.

       That last point is worth highlighting: It is about the composition of the Old Testament. It does not refer to New Testament books. Catholics and Protestants agree on what makes up the New Testament.

      JIM REIHER takes a look at the Apocrypha... | more... |

AREN'T CHRISTIANS BEING NARROW-MINDED WHEN THEY CLAIM JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD?

Perhaps you have you heard something like this: "Surely it is time to let go of your obsession with Jesus being the only way to God! After all, we live in a very multicultural society. It is downright embarrassing to try to say that Jesus is the only way. It makes you Christians sound narrow minded and proud. You come across as dogmatic and intolerant. You probably vilify other folk of different religions, and you are generally just 'up yourself'. Other people sincerely hold to their own religion. Who are you to say that yours’ is right and theirs is wrong. Isn’t it more likely that all paths lead to the final end (call it God, or heaven, or peace, or oneness with the cosmos, or Brahman, or whatever you want to call it!). Either that or you are all wrong!"
      So goes the common criticism we endure about our faith in Jesus. How do we respond to such a criticism? Have we got anything we can say in reply? I believe we have.

      JIM REIHER explains his 'narrow-mindedness'... | more... |

WHY DO WE NEED TO KEEP CONFESSING OUR SINS?

If God loves us so much, and if salvation is all of grace, then why do we have to go on confessing our sins all the time?

      We are saved by grace. It is all the plan and gift of God. It is received by faith and it is not because of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). We all know that. It is all about the great mercy and kindness of God towards us sinners: while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). He makes it possible for us to be reconciled. He loves us.

      Now we also know that we are meant to live a life of good works after we are saved (Ephesians 2:10). We know that real faith, if it is genuine, will lead to a life of good works (faith without works is dead, after all, says James in 2:17). So to demonstrate the changed life and appreciation for the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life, we live for God in the here and now. It does not win us his approval. It does not earn us a place in heaven. It is entirely done in response to his grace. It is our way of saying we love you God! It is our way of showing that we are sincere.

      JIM REIHER takes a look at why it's important we keep bringing our sins to God... | more... |

DOES GOD REALLY USE US IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES?

Have you ever wondered if what you are doing as a Christian really has any impact on anyone? Sometimes we get so busy doing things for church, that we don’t see a lot of outcomes. Lives changed. Souls saved. That sort of thing.

      There was a time, some years ago now, when my wife and I helped run a small tea house that was sponsored by our local church. It was called 'Tea and Talk'. We operated from a small shop front in Manly in Sydney. It was up the road a little from where the Manly ferries came in from Sydney Harbour. As a result, there was always a steady flow of people who would pop in for a tea or coffee, after disembarking from a ferry. The tea house was not really a commercial venture: we only wanted to break even. Our main purpose was to meet members of the community and in a non-threatening environment, if opportunity arose, share the Gospel with them.

      JIM REIHER finds that God moves even in the most unlikely of circumstances... | more... |

IS MUSIC PIRACY EVER OK?

Some questions seem to leave you open to attack no matter which side of the debate you end up arguing for. When Jesus was asked “Should we pay taxes to Caesar or not?”, He was being set up. Either answer was going to get Him into trouble. If He said “No - it’s a rip off and unjust - don’t pay ‘em!”, He would have been arrested and charged with treason. If He said, “Yes, be dutiful citizens and always follow the law,” He would have lost the interest and support of the common people. What did He do? What did He say?

      Jesus replied by deflecting the question and lifting the considerations to a higher level. He asked for a coin. One with the head of Caesar on it was given to Him. He went on to say: “Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's, and give to God that which is God's". What a great answer!

      JIM REIHER takes a look at what Jesus might have thought of music piracy... | more... |

JIM REIHER takes a look at the age old question of whether the church should become involved in politics... | more... |

With the issue of torture making national headlines after publication of an article in which Deakin University professor Mirko Bagaric advocated its use in some circumstances, JIM REIHER gives his view... | more... |

  In light of issues raised in the Terri Schiavo case in the United States , JIM REIHER takes a look at whether euthanasia is ever OK... | more... |

In the first of a new column looking at some of life's tough questions, JIM REIHER provides a response to the question: why does God allow suffering in the world? | more... |