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 The Jesus Candidate News

August 2017
Religious Right shows sharp elbows

The British Religious Right has been sharpening elbows on Christians not sharing its vision of a theocratic state.
 
On July 7th Christian Concern (CC) published a denunciation of John Stevens, Director of the Fellowship of Independent Churches, for ‘polytheism’ and having ‘no scriptural vision of the scope of the gospel.’ John's offence was urging evangelicals to ‘advocate for a truly plural society in which they value the rights and freedoms of other communities as well as their own’. John was writing on his blog on 20th June, in response to Tim Farron’s resignation as Liberal Democrat leader.  
 
Meanwhile, also on July 7th, the Church of England Synod (its governing body) opened in York.  Archbishop John Sentamu proposed a resolution calling on the UK’s newly ‘hung’ Parliament to legislate for the ‘common good.’ CC’s leader, Andrea Williams, moved an amendment saying 'common good' meant Parliament should implement biblical law. The Archbishop, a survivor of Idi Amin's jails, robustly dismissed her argument. The clash prompted the launch of the Movement for a Renewed Orthodox Anglicanism, which so far has attracted over 1400 supporting signatures. According to CC’s policy head, speaking on Premier Radio, this is an ‘independence movement’ in response to the Church of England ‘rejecting Christianity’ at Synod.
 

 

The Religious Right thinks a pluralistic society – with legal equality between all faiths – is an impossible ‘polytheism.’ The Jesus Candidate explains what this movement believes, and how it promotes its radical politics. The Jesus Candidate: Political religion in a secular age is published by Ekklesia. Order online for £9.40 including postage. 


More on the Jesus Candidate

blogLeviticus weaponised The Politics of the Farron resignation.

NewsBall/Carey Theocratic thinking that put a serial abuser back into ministry

Churches: a talk to City Church, Birmingham, a study in Judges argues theocracy is idolatory, and more on the state in Romans 13.

 
Copyright © 2017 Paul Lusk, All rights reserved.


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