Comment

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If we can remember how to feast and fast, there will be Blue Mondays no more

2025-01-20T14:19:00+00:00By

On the alleged saddest day of the year, ‘Blue Monday’, Samuel Tarr attributes the dulled sense of joy and gratitude to modern society’s faded ability to balance the feasts and fasts of life. 

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Almost 400 million Christians are persecuted. Why aren’t more people talking about this?

2025-01-17T15:33:00+00:00By

The 2025 World Watch List from Open Doors has revealed 380 million Christians are now persecuted. Henrietta Blyth is urging prayer for those whose stories are scarcely featured in the headlines

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Arthur Blessitt (1940-2025): The man who walked 40,000 miles for Jesus

2025-01-16T16:17:00+00:00By

The evangelist Arthur Blessitt became world-famous through carrying a 12 foot cross around the globe in the hope of having conversations with strangers about the gospel. Like many church leaders, RT Kendall was keen to invite Blessitt to speak. Little did he know the upheaval it would cause 

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CofE bishops don’t believe in God? That's laughable nonsense

2025-01-16T16:10:00+00:00By

While the Church is no stranger to misreporting, Tim Wyatt says a recent Spectator article was especially egregious

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1 in 5 don’t believe in democracy. Here’s why Christians must defend it

2025-01-15T15:59:00+00:00By

A new survey shows an alarming shift toward authoritarianism among young Brits. Democracy isn’t perfect, says Tim Farron MP, but it’s far better than the alternative, and there are distinctly Christian reasons for supporting it

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Richard Hays (1948-2025): The leading New Testament scholar was a real Christian

2025-01-15T15:46:00+00:00By

Richard B. Hays was one of the most influential New Testament scholars of his generation, says Dr Ian Paul.  His radical faith in Christ motivated his scholarship and led him to write a number of game-changing books

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Why Mark Zuckerberg’s free speech reforms offer Christians hope

2025-01-13T16:21:00+00:00By

Mark Zuckerberg’s pledge sparks hope for the future of digital liberty, but there is still a long way to go in the fight for freedom of expression says Paul Coleman

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Faith in the fire: How Christians should respond to LA’s wildfires

2025-01-13T14:44:00+00:00By

Jacinta Read and her family have been evacuated from their home in Arcadia, Los Angeles, close to the Eaton Canyon wildfire. She shares their experience and calls for Christian charity and compassion in the face of apocalyptic devastation

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Mark Zuckerberg’s changes to Facebook are a gift and a danger to Christians

2025-01-13T12:14:00+00:00By

Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that Meta would be reducing censorship and removing fact-checkers. Lani Charlwood, chair of Christians in Media, reflects on the challenges and opportunities it brings

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‘What do you think of Jesus?’ Wesley Huff defended the faith brilliantly on Joe Rogan

2025-01-10T16:53:00+00:00By

In an appearance on the world’s largest podcast, ’The Joe Rogan Experience’, Christian apologist Wesley Huff defended the reliability of scripture and the truth of the resurrection of Jesus. Having watched the three-hour-long interview, Corey Bailey says Christians have much to learn from his example 

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5 ways to make the most of your Bible reading in 2025

2025-01-10T13:07:00+00:00By

Is reading the Bible more often one of your new year’s resolutions? Despite your best intentions, do you struggle with God’s word, or feel guilty that you don’t make more time to do so? Here’s Andy Witherall’s top tips for banishing the shame and getting stuck into the scriptures

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Tackling child abuse gangs calls for a return to Christian values

2025-01-08T17:06:00+00:00By

As Elon Musk wades into the row over Britian’s child rape gangs, a serious issue is in danger of becoming a political football. If we really want to reduce child abuse, we need to focus on the Bible’s blueprint for a safe society, says Miriam Cates. Liberalism has failed our children

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Who would want to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury? It’s an impossible job

2025-01-08T16:44:00+00:00By

As Justin Welby lays down his bishop’s crozier, George Pitcher takes a stab at writing a job description for the next Archbishop of Canterbury

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Christians were targets for terror this Christmas. Here are 4 ways we should respond

2025-01-08T16:22:00+00:00By

From Bangladesh to Nigeria to New Orleans, hundreds fell victim to Islamic inspired terrorism over the Christmas period, says Tim Dieppe. Jesus’ instruction to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” continues to be relevant

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Dissatisfied with New Year’s resolutions? You’re hungry for God

2025-01-07T12:26:00+00:00By

Kicking a habit - or starting something new - is not a bad thing, says Andy Witherall. But if our constant resolve is to ‘make’ this year the one that everything changes, it might signal a deeper desire 

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Jimmy Carter (1924-2024): The born again Baptist who taught the Bible and healed divisions

2025-01-06T12:36:00+00:00By

David Coffey shares a personal tribute to the 39th President of the United States, who died on 29 December aged 100

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The Children’s Society were wrong to cancel Welby - but I understand why they did

2024-12-24T10:04:00+00:00By

Refusing a donation from the Archbishop of Canterbury makes sense in our ’cancel culture’ society, says Miriam Cates. And until the CofE starts putting people above process, the problems will remain 

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Looking for belonging this Christmas? It’s found in Christ

2024-12-23T15:05:00+00:00By

If the story of Christ’s birth is true, it changes everything, says Tim Farron. Don’t be afraid to explore the miracle of Christmas this year

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What can Christians learn from 2024?

2024-12-23T13:06:00+00:00By

Chris Goswami looks back at the news stories from 2024 that caught his attention, explores his highlights and takes a look at the year ahead

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How to stay sober this Christmas

2024-12-23T12:07:00+00:00By

It may well be the most wonderful time of the year, but Christmas can also be notoriously boozy, and sometimes lonely and stressful. Emma Heath shares her top tips for anyone struggling with addiction over the festive season

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What the Bible does not tell you about Christmas

2024-12-23T11:47:00+00:00By

The squalor of a borrowed stable is a far cry from the sanitised nativity scenes most of us are familiar with. But the real beauty of the Christmas story is that our creator God was willing to fully enter into our world - with all its brokenness, dirt and need

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In defence of the commercialisation of Christmas

2024-12-23T10:19:00+00:00By

Let’s stop moaning about what Christmas is not, and start living out what it is, says Jonty Langley. If Christians show people the difference Jesus makes to our lives all year round, maybe they’ll see past the presents and parties to the real reason for the season

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You don’t need to choose between evangelism and social action this Christmas

2024-12-20T14:45:00+00:00By

We can do better than binary, divisive discussions, says Bishop Joseph D’Souza. Christians in the majority world have long understood that the gospel is good news for mind, body and soul. It’s time Christians in the West woke up to that 

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Eddie Stobart (1929-2024): The Christian businessman behind Britain’s most iconic lorry firm

2024-12-20T12:22:00+00:00By

Keith Danby pays tribute to Eddie Stobart, the founder of one of Britain’s most recognisable haulage companies

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Societal views on gender are shifting for the better. Christians are on the right side of history

2024-12-20T11:26:00+00:00By

Christians have often felt on the backfoot when it comes to debates around issues such as sexuality, abortion and transgender. But Peter Lynas believes significant shifts are taking place in Western culture and there are good reasons to be optimistic  

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The Premier team’s favourite stories of 2024

2024-12-19T11:40:00+00:00

Journalists, editors and producers from across Premier’s radio, magazine and podcast brands share the most significant, interesting and uplifting stories from the past twelve months 

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3 ways to love those with dementia this Christmas

2024-12-18T17:03:00+00:00By

During the festive season, we celebrate Jesus coming to a world who did not recognise him. Ben Boland shares his top tips for loving those who may not recognise us either, whether at Christmas or all year round

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Editor’s picks: 15 best features from 2024

2024-12-18T15:26:00+00:00By

Having looked back at 900 pages of magazine articles in 2024, our editor Sam Hailes shares his favourite articles from the past twelve months

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Youth work is facing a crisis – just when young people need help the most

2024-12-18T15:19:00+00:00By

At a time when young people are facing unprecedented challenges, there are fewer and fewer people engaged in serving them. Ali Campbell asks: What can the Church do to stand in the gap?

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The 10 most popular articles of 2024

2024-12-18T14:12:00+00:00

Here are the most-read stories on premierchristianity.com over the past twelve months

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‘You’ve been sold a lie. But the truth can still set you free’ - an open letter to Lily Phillips

2024-12-18T09:49:00+00:00By

Pornographic model Lily Phillips, 23 captured international headlines last week when she released a documentary detailing how she slept with 100 men in 24 hours. She has since revealed plans to sleep with 1,000 men next month. In this open letter, Lois McLatchie-Miller tells Phillips she is of infinite worth and value, and God has created her for a much greater purpose

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Christmas is non-existent for North Korean Christians

2024-12-17T12:02:00+00:00By

For most Christians around the world, Christmas is a time to gather and celebrate with friends and family. But for Christians in North Korea, the most dangerous country in the world for followers of Jesus, it is a time of great danger

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​What Wolf Hall teaches us about the Reformation

2024-12-16T15:18:00+00:00By

Whether historically accurate or not, the BBC’s Wolf Hall gives us an insight into the events that surrounded the greatest schism in Church history. It is a timely reminder of the importance of Christian unity, says Tony Wilson

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Sermons shouldn’t last longer than 10 minutes, says the Pope. Is he right?

2024-12-13T14:50:00+00:00By

Last week the Pope repeated his plea to preachers: ”Please, do not go longer than ten minutes, ever! This is very important.” Sam Hailes considers the pros and cons of long sermons

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Hal Lindsey (1929-2024): The end times theologian who popularised the rapture

2024-12-13T13:54:00+00:00By

The US author Hal Lindsey promoted a dispensationalist view of the end times which continues to hold influence among some evangelicals. But Lindsey’s predictions in his widely read 1970 book The Late Great Planet Earth, haven’t aged well, says Rev Ian Paul

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I called this divorce ad ‘evil’. Was I right?

2024-12-11T11:46:00+00:00By

Divorce is being presented as a “kind” option on adverts spotted on the London tube, but Glen Scrivener says trampling across the sanctity of marriage in the service of mere convenience is far from kind

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Three cheers for Rev Richard Coles on I’m a Celebrity

2024-12-10T16:26:00+00:00By

While Justin Welby was in the House of Lords exhibiting precisely how not to conduct yourself in the face of safeguarding failures, Rev Richard Coles was in the jungle of the I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here embodying all the qualities we would hope for in leader of the Church of England, says Rev Alex Frost

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Expect a busy carol service this Christmas. People want to know more about Jesus

2024-12-10T15:10:00+00:00By

As new figures reveal attendance at Church of England Christmas services has leapt by 20 per cent in recent years, Rachel Jordan-Wolf says many churches will be looking forward to packed services in the coming days

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Jesus wasn’t a Palestinian

2024-12-10T13:06:00+00:00By

Some have objected to the casting of Israeli actors in Netflix’s new film Mary. It’s a demoralising example of misguided attempts to erase Christ’s Jewish identity, says Michael Coren 

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Assad’s fall leaves Syrian Christians in peril

2024-12-10T11:11:00+00:00By

Could Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s takeover see a jihadist-inspired coup peacefully transition to a free, democratic Syria? If it does, it would be a first for the region, says David Charlwood. If it doesn’t, their long history of violence spells disaster for all non-Muslim minority groups  

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Bible Boom: How Gen Z’s search for spirituality is renewing faith in America

2024-12-09T14:48:00+00:00By

As sales of Bibles in the US surge, Dr John Farquhar Plake says there’s a new hunger for spirituality among young people 

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The most popular Bible verse of 2024 is the perfect antidote to our anxious age

2024-12-06T16:42:00+00:00By

YouVersion’s most popular verse may be thousands of years old, but it speaks perfectly to the times we’re living in, observes Bible Society’s Rev Mark Woods 

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‘Manifest’ is the Word of the Year. It nearly ruined my life

2024-12-06T16:10:00+00:00By

The belief that you can achieve your goals through positive thinking has gone mainstream. But Kate Orson’s attempts to “manifest” wealth led instead to debt. She believes the practice can be dangerous - and it’s not worth the price

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Marc Guéhi’s armband controversy shows equality in football is not there yet

2024-12-05T15:28:00+00:00By

By adding ‘Jesus ❤️ U’ to his rainbow armband, Crystal Palace captain, Marc Guéhi, has sparked a vital conversation about football’s commitment to equality and diversity - whether that’s religious beliefs or sexuality and gender. Christians in Sport’s Graham Daniels says he deserves our respect

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Band Aid, white saviours and why Christians should avoid cynicism

2024-12-04T16:37:00+00:00By

As ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ turns 40 years old this month, Ed Sheeran has added his voice to those critiquing the song’s ‘damaging stereotypes’. Maddy Fry used to share that view. She explains what changed her mind 

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Tim Farron: ‘Christians must keep fighting assisted dying’

2024-12-04T14:08:00+00:00By

Christians shouldn’t be surprised if assisted dying is legalised in the UK, says Tim Farron MP. But we must continue to challenge it, even if our motivations are questioned. The sanctity of life is at stake

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Esther Rantzen is wrong. There’s no such thing as ‘secular neutrality’

2024-12-03T15:58:00+00:00By

Christians should not feel intimidated by those who say our faith is not a legitimate basis from which to express an opinion. Everyone’s worldview is shaped by something, says Jamie Gillies, including humanists, atheists or secularists. Ours is no less valid

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How the trauma of advent brings God's healing

2024-12-03T15:03:00+00:00By

When God came into the world, it was traumatic, argues George Pitcher. But Advent reminds us that now, more than ever, the Church needs the healing balm of Jesus - even if it is painful at first touch

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AI Jesus can only give you fast-food wisdom. I prefer the real thing

2024-12-02T12:07:00+00:00By

A hologram of Jesus claims to be able to impart wisdom to visitors at St Peter’s Chapel in Lucerne, Switzerland. Christians should be cautious about our creeping dependence on AI, says Chris Goswami

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Saint Boris the Skinny shouldn’t be throwing stones at the Church of England

2024-11-29T10:36:00+00:00By

Boris Johnson has blamed the UK’s obesity crisis on the CofE. Jonty Langley thinks he can smell a whiff of hypocrisy

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Tim Farron: Assisted dying makes the vulnerable even more so

2024-11-28T14:17:00+00:00By

Changing the law will make those at risk of abuse much more vulnerable, says Tim Farron, as well as putting pressure on the elderly and infirm to ‘do the decent thing’ and choose death

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‘Even in the darkest stories, I’m looking for light’: The Christian faith of Denzel Washington

2024-11-27T11:28:00+00:00By

Hollywood actor, Denzel Washington, recently got baptised in New York. Tim Bechervaise takes a look at the role that faith has played in the life of the Gladiator II star

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Assisted suicide isn’t a choice we should give ourselves

2024-11-26T09:32:00+00:00By

Danny Webster challenges the idolisation of autonomy, highlighting how assisting suicide undermines the value of choice and freedom

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Don’t be offended by The Life of Brian, it’s a great Christian apologetic

2024-11-25T14:00:00+00:00By

It’s 45 years since Monty Python’s The Life of Brian caused outrage among some Christians, who took offence at its mockery of Christ. But the Bible is full of people mocking Jesus – and God uses it all for his glory, says Samuel Tarr