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Evolutionary theory was the assumed framework of every course I studied as an undergraduate biosciences student. In some courses it was the explicit focus. In others, it was more implicit because it provides the structure by which many different strands of biology can be functionally interlinked in intellectually insightful ways. After my degree I went straight into research work at Cambridge University Department of Zoology. It was a place where you could take the theory of evolution for granted - no one would ever think to challenge it. They have recently opened a new centre, named after the popular contemporary TV spokesman of evolution, Sir David Attenborough. On one occasion whilst working at Cambridge, I was offered a job at the ‘Faraday Institute for Christianity and Science’, after a warm and informal discussion with its director, Dr Dennis Alexander. The Faraday Institute is known for promoting a ‘theistic’ approach to the theory of evolution - the idea that the first few ...

Have you ever watched as two good friends, a husband and a wife, or a pastor and his elders fall out? Perhaps you love and appreciate both and don’t want to take sides, even when you can see that one party is clearly right. It is a painful position to be in and you fear that, when all is said and done, nobody will come out stronger and everyone will have wounds to lick. That is how I felt reading an article in the Evangelical Times (ET) this month, entitled “ Concerns raised over LGBT and racism seminars at Aber Conference ”, which brings together a number of my friends and pitches them against each other. I can’t say that I agree at every point with any of these friends but at a fundamental level I believe we are all on the same page when it comes to our Christian core: Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.  Firstly, I have always considered ET a friend. I have often appreciated articles in the paper and they have published one or two things which I h...

Over the past few months I have been increasingly concerned about the number of conspiracy theories being shared by professing Christians on social media. An opinion piece in the New York Times this week suggests that I am not the only Christian to feel this way. It focused on an anonymous individual who posts far-right conspiracies under the pen-name ‘QAnon’. His theories, draw on populist end-times narratives to appeal to conservative-minded American evangelicals. He claims that the left-wing Democratic political establishment is controlled by a pedophile satanist cult, hell-bent on destroying the hero in a Republican white hat, President Donald Trump. A few thoughts from the Bible: In the ninth commandment God specifically outlaws giving false witness. Whatever evils other people may have committed, it is sin in you that moves you to blame them for sins that they have not committed. It is sin in you that moves you to accuse them of sins without witness or evidence. It is sin in ...

There is a story in the Bible about 10 lepers who came to Jesus asking to be healed. He sent them to be inspected by the priests, as was the legal requirement and custom, and as they went the leprosy left them. The text goes on: “ Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;   and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks” (Luke 17:15-16). Where were the other 9?! They received what they asked for but did not return to give thanks. Wind back the clock a few months. Remember the reports coming from Spain and Italy and other countries where the coronavirus was having a devastating effect? Remember the sense of panic and dread? Remember, too, if you are a Christian how many of us took time to pray and fast - on our own or as churches and wider Christian networks. We asked God to show mercy and hold back His judgment. We asked Him to spare our loved ones working in the NHS. We asked Him to preserve life and minimise...

“It was like a red rag to a bull”. That’s what we say when a word or action touches a person’s ‘raw nerves’ releasing a powerful, uncontrollable, emotional reaction. There are many occasions in the Bible where preaching the Christian message provoked a reaction which was hostile to the point of violence. To the present day, even in countries where freedom of speech and religious liberty are legally protected and the gospel is often met with cool indifference, you do not have to preach for long before you encounter certain individuals and groups of people who just seem to  hate Christianity and do all they can to discourage and hinder those who love Jesus Christ. There are many reasons why this can happen. It can be because of misunderstanding or miscommunication. Sometimes it is because the gospel offends people’s pride and challenge ungodly lifestyles. It might be because people have had previous bad experiences with cults or true Christians who are living in a sub-Christian wa...

In Leviticus 10 we read the tragic story of two priests who were literally playing with fire – and not just ordinary fire! The occasion was the first ordination of Aaron and his sons into God’s priesthood. Everything had been done according to God’s command. The ordinands were anointed with oil, the animals were slain, the blood sprinkled, and the sacrifice laid out on the altar. As Aaron pronounced God’s blessing over the people God revealed his glory and sent fire from heaven to consume the offering (9:24). Then Nadab and Abihu start offering incense that God has not commanded – and the fire from heaven consumed them too (10:2).   Why did they act like this? Was there a presumptuous bravado in their position as priests? Did they think they had already ‘arrived’? Did they think their special priestly status put them above the people and above the law?   It should have been an occasion of great hope. God had separated his people from the pagan world of ancient Egypt in order...

The light of the gospel had not been removed or allowed to go out at the Church of Laodicea (cf. Revelation 2:5). She could still be represented by a ‘lamp stand’ with a bright light or ‘star’ (Revelation 1:20). She is still the object of the Lord’s devoted attention (Revelation 1:10-14). The Church at Laodicea had a ‘preacher’. This is the best way to understand the word ‘angel’ or ‘messenger’. The ‘messenger’ was the person who would receive Christ’s letter (Revelation 3:14) and proclaim its corporate message to the Church. The Christians were obviously still meeting together in such a way that this letter could be read to everybody. In material terms, it seems that the Church at Laodicea was fairly affluent. They were rich. They had no sense of being in need (Rev 3:17). They may have celebrated this as a measure of God’s blessing and favour. In contemporary terms, they would probably be the kind of Church with modern buildings and technology, a high proportion of graduates and w...