EFAC Australia
Zombie Theology
- Written by: Peter Corney
Zombie Theology – deathly ideas that stalk the Church
By Peter Corney[i]
The following six ideas are eroding classical, creedal, orthodox Christian faith. They sometimes travel under the heading of “Progressive or Emerging Christianity.”
1.CONFORMISM - The radical adapting of the gospel to fit the prevailing plausibility structure (A “plausibility structure” is what a particular culture finds easy to believe at a particular time.) This is often done covertly and dishonestly by continuing to use the language and symbols of orthodox faith but changing their first order or original meaning. Conformism is intellectually provincial; it traps itself in the spirit of the times and fails to give proper weight to the churches historic understanding of the faith. Most of the fundamental issues we face have been faced by the church in the past.
2. UNIVERSALISM – A gospel without repentance and exclusive allegiance to Christ where every one will eventually be members of the Kingdom of God even those who do not believe, reject or ignore Christ or give allegiance to another God.
3. RADICAL INCLUSIVISM – A community without boundaries of belief or practice. Loving Christian hospitality should not be confused with radical inclusivism.
4. SYNCRETISM – The acceptance of all religious beliefs as equally true and the inclusion and blending of all faiths. The logical contradictions embraced by syncretism are breathtaking.
5. COVERT UNITARIANISM - The reduction and erosion of the uniqueness, divinity and lordship of Christ. This eventually unravels the key doctrine of the Trinity. This leads to a new Arianism.
6. PANTHEISM – The confusion of God and the creation in which the distinction is dissolved and the worship of nature emerges. This inevitably leads to Monistic Pantheism and a revival of Paganism. Monism (all is one) is also the fundamental idea beneath Eastern Mysticism.[ii]
C.S.Lewis observed many years ago that Pantheism is fallen humanity’s default religious position, “....not because it is the final stage of enlightenment, but because it is the attitude into which the human mind falls when left to itself. In the absence of revealed religion, humanity gravitates towards natural religion.”(See Romans 1: 18-23)
It also reveals itself today under the titles of Evolutionary Mysticism and Religious Naturalism but it is the old pagan Pantheism.[iii]
EFAC Tribute to The Rev Dr John Stott
- Written by: Richard Condie
By Richard Condie, President of EFAC VIC.
Hebrews 13:7 says: Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Today we pay tribute to John Stott, from just four different aspects of his influence on the Church. EFAC, Langham, Lausanne and All Souls. There are many more stories to be told than these, and we hope that this afternoon you will share them with each other after the service. But our hope and prayer,like the writer to the Hebrews encourages, is that remembering this great leader who spoke the word of God to us, we would consider the outcome of his way of life, and we might imitate his faith.
Tribute to John Stott
- Written by: Ruth Redpath
By Ruth Redpath, Assistant Priest at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, and former member of All Soul's Langham Place.
It was in the 1960’s that All Souls Langham Place, London, 200 metres from Oxford Circus, and next-door to the BBC, became known as "John Stott’s Church." Rector since 1950, John had become known to many as he led University Missions in the UK and abroad. One such was at Melbourne University in 1958. During the week, he gave memorable lunchtime addresses, later published as the classic “Basic Christianity”. His concluding address was given at Sunday’s Choral Evensong in this cathedral, with 1800 packed in, including some of us here today. It is not surprising that many travelling in UK and Europe or in London for postgraduate study, made All Souls their spiritual home.
John Stott's Dream for the Church
- Written by: John Stott
From John Stott's 'The Living Church'. It was originally penned on 24 November 1974, in honour of All Souls Church's 150th anniversary of its dedication.
I have a dream of a church which is a biblical church — which is loyal in every particular to the revelation of God in Scripture, whose teachers expound Scripture with integrity and relevance, and so seek to present every member mature in Christ, whose people love the word of God, and adorn it with an obedient and Christ-like life, which is preserved from all unbiblical emphases, whose whole life manifests the health and beauty of biblical balance. I have a dream of a biblical church.
John Stott Memorial Service Sermon by Rev. Canon Dr. J. I. Packer
- Written by: Chris Appleby
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