Rev Coles is walking in the light

It is great to have folks like Richard Coles light up our lives (‘Profile’, January). Walking testimonies of Jesus-changed people and the huge variety of ways in which God did this is further expression of his grace. Thank you for sharing this with us. Folks who can look back on a life which was not where God wanted them to be but are now walking in the light and prepared to testify to God’s purpose, renewal, forgiveness and restoration actually have much more credibility and power to witness than many who have not trodden those paths. We all continue to be broken people in a broken world but the mending work of Jesus comes shining through here. So thank you, this interview was really encouraging.  

Tom Dawson 

 

Bursting the bubble

I thought Lucy Mills’ article ‘Life Inside the Bubble’ (January) did a great job of explaining how easily people can unwittingly only see or hear what they’ll already agree with. But, I felt the advice on bursting that bubble missed out some key ideas. It seems to assume that the internet, specifically social media, is now the only place to find news and opinions. How about advising readers to read a real newspaper or listen to the radio?  

Jane Cooper

 

Correct beliefs matter

In your Q&A with him, Brian McLaren (January) says Jesus never said “you must have the correct beliefs”. But Jesus did say that, in effect. In John 6, Jesus is asked “What must we do to do the works God requires?” and he answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Jesus doesn’t talk about doing good works. He talks about believing. The good works should follow on from the correct beliefs.  

Doug Murray 

 

Praise for Tom Wright

I find Premier Christianity thought provoking, stimulating, balanced and difficult to put down. In the January issue Tanya Walker tells us how Tom Wright’s book Surprised by Scripture changed her life. I have just read for the second time Virtue Reborn also by Tom Wright. In it he shows us how to live a Christian life. It sounds simple but requires constant practice. However, with the love of God, the example of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit and prayer we can become more loving.  

Pam Smith 

 

Don't screen us out

Thanks for your most interesting and thought provoking magazine. I've been following the subject raised by Sally Phillips' documentary ‘A world without Down's syndrome?’ (‘In My Opinion’, November) and as the mother of a grown up son who has autism, I would like to offer another point of view. While a disabled toddler is often sweet, endearing and considered ‘quaint’, an adult is often looked at in a very different way.

I've found that the Christians who are most vocal about sanctity of life rarely hang around and give real support.

In one church that my son attended, members were much more interested in getting on with evangelising the community rather than offer support. When he had difficulty understanding the Bible he’s been told to “just pray and the Holy Spirit will reveal himself”.

Thankfully he and his wife are now in a much more supportive church.

Margaret Richards    

 

Bearded wonder

Congratulations to Matt Micklefield for winning our beard competition (December) £100 worth of Christian books are on their way to you.

 

 

Roger writes…

Dear editor,

Time is a mysterious beast. One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day according to scripture, and it is certainly true that on occasions, time seems to stretch. I point, for example, to last week’s so called “All-Age Worship” service. Quite why we need water down 40 minutes of expository preaching for these occasions, I do not know. Instead, I was required to move my arms in time to some children’s song, so absurdly thin on theology, I think every third word was “hey”. I can’t even find that word in my Authorised Version.

If I am not going to listen to serious teaching, I would rather use that time to read my Bible. I intend to read the whole of scripture four times this year, and so I was shocked to see your article last month encouraging us to read other books. I can think of 66 books that are worth reading and I do not consider that anything else is worth our time. I mean, what do these authors think they are doing spending their time writing other books? If you purchase steak, do you also make burgers? Precisely. I intend to spend all my available hours feasting on the prime rib of God’s word, with no distractions. As I told my neighbour when he called for help this morning, “No, I can’t lend a hand with your gardening, I’m too busy reading 1 John 3:17”.

Yours quickly,

Rev Roger D Votional