tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249568432024-03-13T23:47:50.258+11:00Theological TheologyIt's all about the God who has made himself known in Jesus Christ.Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comBlogger212125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-44285863968921616242023-11-16T08:48:00.000+11:002023-11-16T08:48:22.743+11:00The Tragedy and the Bigger Picture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVEKg7bO_-Kj53kgb6Oh7MXexSPjbV-_fetlJIJeyhsWjhqaLi0bYwfTmtXpURmdalTkM1Potjqm7KmAKEn2nnA_T-zqPlLSWtnHISFw_BlgcfBCCSuMYtw8N2FjTND4v9L5N0P7vGWRyJm1UaXRW12Iw5fuSqUcyRO6IE62xEuMzpDBZVEUxfA/s818/p4_synod-nov-23-wideangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="818" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVEKg7bO_-Kj53kgb6Oh7MXexSPjbV-_fetlJIJeyhsWjhqaLi0bYwfTmtXpURmdalTkM1Potjqm7KmAKEn2nnA_T-zqPlLSWtnHISFw_BlgcfBCCSuMYtw8N2FjTND4v9L5N0P7vGWRyJm1UaXRW12Iw5fuSqUcyRO6IE62xEuMzpDBZVEUxfA/s320/p4_synod-nov-23-wideangle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The behaviour of the Archbishop of Canterbury in recent months has been nothing short of scandalous. Not only has he betrayed his ordination vows, as the delegates at GAFCON in Kigali earlier this year recognised, but he has recklessly pursued an agenda contrary to the Scriptures and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ despite urgent and repeated warnings from the vast majority of Anglicans worldwide not to do so. In this he has been supported by the Archbishop of York. The Archbishop will have a higher Judge than the rank and file of the Church of England, the GAFCON and Global South movements, and even future chroniclers of the history of the church to answer to for this, and, quite frankly, who would want to be in his shoes (James 3:1; Matthew 18:16; Hebrews 13:17)? <div><br /></div><div> The bigger question now, though, is not how can Justin Welby recover from this (short of wholesale repentance I cannot see how he can) but how do faithful men and women within the Church of England continue to pursue the goal of re-evangelising the United Kingdom in the wake of what he, the Archbishop of York, and collectively the House of Bishops have done? This is, after all, the urgent need of the moment. Men and women all over Britain are heading blithely into judgment while ignoring or ridiculing or even openly defying the only one who can save them. How can we sit by and just watch that happen while we fight among ourselves? </div><div><br /></div><div> It is very hard not to dissolve into a flood of tears as this all plays out in England. We on this side of the world owe so much to the English church and to its evangelical wing in particular. We have been brought to faith, nourished in faith, grounded for a lifetime of ministry in faith, by the faithful ministries of men like Whitfield, Simeon, Ryle, Stott and Packer (and many others of course) and to watch much lesser men squander that inheritance brings great grief. When we remember the Reformation martyrs, and the courage of generation after generation of their heirs, we have great cause to thank God and great cause to weep over what is happening now. </div><div><br /></div><div> So what is the way ahead? Who am I to tell my English brothers and sisters what they should do? It is up to them now, the faithful remnant within the Church of England joining cause with those who over recent years have left for refuge elsewhere, to find the way to put the things that matter most back at the centre of the agenda. We need to do that here too, of course. We can all let the heartache at God’s word being trampled by those charged with preaching it and defending it distract us from the victory of Christ, the urgency of his call to faith and repentance, and the clear, gracious yet insistent preaching of the gospel and its implications. But we cannot afford to do so.</div><div><br /></div><div> When we stop talking about Jesus, we stop talking about the gospel. When we stop loving his word, we stop loving his people and the world over which he wept. So let’s not fall into that trap, even as we respond in tears to what has been done by the leadership (so-called) of the Church of England. Let’s get back to the core truths and hold on to them even more tightly. Our world is lost because we have sought to determine for ourselves what is right and what is wrong without reference to God, let alone in humble obedience to him. The only hope for every man and woman is the Saviour who came among us to exhaust the judgment we deserve and triumph over every consequence of our sin (John 3:16). In his generosity he calls on all to “come to me” and to “find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:28–30). But it is only those who do come to him in faith, abandoning the empty, disappointing allegiances of their life without him, and taking hold of the rescue only he can provide, who will be saved (Rom. 10:9, 13). Most wonderful of all, he promised “whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). </div><div><br /></div><div> So what has happened is scandalous and the last day will unmask its perverse folly. But what lies ahead is a magnificent challenge. This is still the age of gospel proclamation. It is only when the gospel of the kingdom has been “proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to the nations” that the end will come (Matt. 24:14). The sheer brilliance of that gospel will not be seen if, for whatever reason, we soft-pedal on the truths our world finds unpalatable. So our excitement at the challenge must be matched by a courage not to budge even a millimetre from the truth taught in Scripture. Nevertheless, I dare to dream of a new reformation, not just in the Church of England, but in churches throughout the world.
</div>Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-19370364891797226112023-02-10T08:40:00.000+11:002023-02-10T08:40:16.707+11:00A catastrophic failure of leadership<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQofbGyc9_e7vVZYwQkQ_7lJtd8AvzSaD69fSzyI5RDT344bHuOhM9bd7tDC7zsV2yqSs0wukHwsbCTrnoJyR5eLNiA2whszcVEZw-Ifu53gsmkbh-s39r-1oqEHsaRFxuR-qZ9yzmmPTlMaiXl1kKoMDZDd2MBSl1BjzMqqzHncY4hVnfg4/s992/wirestory_382f4f61ed3f38cbf9df1c773164cb0f_16x9_992.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="992" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQofbGyc9_e7vVZYwQkQ_7lJtd8AvzSaD69fSzyI5RDT344bHuOhM9bd7tDC7zsV2yqSs0wukHwsbCTrnoJyR5eLNiA2whszcVEZw-Ifu53gsmkbh-s39r-1oqEHsaRFxuR-qZ9yzmmPTlMaiXl1kKoMDZDd2MBSl1BjzMqqzHncY4hVnfg4/s320/wirestory_382f4f61ed3f38cbf9df1c773164cb0f_16x9_992.jpg"/></a></div>Tragically overnight, the Church of England continued its headlong plunge into irrelevance. A catastrophic failure of leadership, in particular from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, led to the General Synod agreeing to allow the blessing of same-sex civil unions. The bishops of the Church of England pledged at their consecration to guard and uphold the faith, yet with their behaviour during this General Synod, despite public displays of empty piety, this is precisely what they did not do. They have shown themselves to be theologically bankrupt, pastorally inept and without both courage and wisdom.
Many faithful members of the General Synod of the Church of England grieve with us today at this outcome. As was said in debate, it is a perverse folly to call on God to bless what he has declared in his word to be sin. This vote will not change that and so it becomes one more sign that the leadership structures of the Church of England are under judgment.
We need to pray for the churches in England. We in this country owe so much to gospel-hearted men and women who came from England to share the news of salvation and life in Jesus with those who had lived here for millennia and those who travelled in more recent times. There is a wonderful heritage in the Church of England that for many years has been squandered by its leaders.
Where things will go from here is difficult to say. We must pray that those leaders still holding fast to the teaching of God’s word will be given extraordinary wisdom as they respond to this heart-breaking turn of events. Britain is crying out to be re-evangelised. The gospel we have to share is such good news, for same-sex attracted people as much as for any others. Our sin, together with the shame and guilt it brings, can be forgiven. A new life of hope and purpose and joy can be ours, if we will come to Jesus. He is the Saviour who reaches out to men and women where they are, in our various forms of brokenness and lostness, but loves us too much to leave us where we are.
Heavenly Father, please guard and guide your people in the United Kingdom. Give them courage and hope at this moment and please do such a work amongst them that we may look back and see the good that came even in the midst of this moment of terrible unfaithfulness. For the glory of Jesus and the extension of his kingdom, Amen.
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-79503052147446522902022-07-20T14:08:00.003+10:002022-07-20T16:01:22.856+10:00The Limitations of Lambeth<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6VtyClr1RD2ydJuomfSGAir2rWM98NZu3jV6e7jwvVELTg-lLLiWKASWhBRSc8wz27OZofpmQebrbh11fN0eF7cbcA5jSfQVZqfuLMROY5wS4lLJ-n7ZmlZkqRZFVhKZMKdci-zR6N-ChGsiSNengDhSQ4hlWYZYYRTwjUszxzEqRYZd5WM/s667/df.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6VtyClr1RD2ydJuomfSGAir2rWM98NZu3jV6e7jwvVELTg-lLLiWKASWhBRSc8wz27OZofpmQebrbh11fN0eF7cbcA5jSfQVZqfuLMROY5wS4lLJ-n7ZmlZkqRZFVhKZMKdci-zR6N-ChGsiSNengDhSQ4hlWYZYYRTwjUszxzEqRYZd5WM/s320/df.jpg"/></a></div>
In less than a week's time Anglican bishops from around the world will gather for what is usually a decennial Lambeth Conference in London. This year, a sizable number of bishops will not be attending the conference in protest at what they see as departures from biblical truth and standards of behaviour by a growing number of provinces in the Anglican Communion. They hold little hope that these departures will be addressed by the conference since so many of the bishops who will be attending have promoted them or have refused to speak against them.
It is important to manage our expectations as the conference approaches. The first Lambeth Conference was held in 1867, and was very deliberately a conference rather than a council or synod. The Lambeth Conference does not make decisions that are binding on all in the Anglican Communion. The first presidential address, delivered by Archbishop Charles Longely, was explicit about this.
<blockquote>It has never been contemplated that we should assume the functions of a general synod of all the churches in full communion with the Church of England, and take upon ourselves to enact canons that should be binding upon those here represented. We merely propose to discuss matters of practical interest, and pronounce what we deem expedient in resolutions which may serve as safe guides to future action.
</blockquote>
In other words, Lambeth cannot legislate, its resolutions can merely express the opinions of those present. This was obvious when we consider the aftermath of Resolution 1.10 of the 1998 Conference. Within months of the Lambeth Conference passing this resolution on human sexuality, provinces in America and Canada acted in ways which demonstrated that they did not consider the resolution to have any binding authority. They would not be swayed by the resolution, not even with an extraordinary majority vote in support of 526 to 70 (with 40 abstentions), nor by subsequent entreaties from successive Primates' Meetings and the Global South. It is not too much to say that they treated Resolution 1.10 with contempt.
What did Resolution 1.10 say?
<blockquote>This conference
<b>a.</b> commends to the church the subsection report on human sexuality;
<b>b.</b> in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage;
<b>c.</b> recognises that there are among us persons who experience themselves as having a homosexual orientation. Many of these are members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral direction of the Church, and God's transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of relationships. We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons and wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ;
<b>d.</b> while rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture, calls on all our people to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn irrational fear of homosexuals, violence within marriage and any trivialisation and commercialisation of sex;
<b>e.</b> cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions;
<b>f.</b> requests the Primates and the ACC to establish a means of monitoring the work done on the subject of human sexuality in the Communion and to share statements and resources among us;
<b>g.</b> notes the significance of the Kuala Lumpur Statement on Human Sexuality and the concerns expressed in resolutions IV.26, V.1, V.10, V.23 and V.35 on the authority of Scripture in matters of marriage and sexuality and asks the Primates and the ACC to include them in their monitoring process.</blockquote>
Evangelicals and orthodox Anglo-catholics within the Anglican Communion rejoiced in the passage of this resolution. Revisionist Anglicans simply ignored it. Even the overwhelming majority it enjoyed on the floor of the Conference did not change that.
However, it is very important to recognise that those who did rejoice at this passing of this resolution did not hold their view, nor consider it authoritative, <i>because</i> of Lambeth 1998 Resolution 1.10. Their view of marriage and appropriate sexual behaviour is not <i>based</i> on any resolution of the Lambeth Conference. Rather they have always understood that this is the biblical view of marriage and appropriate sexual behaviour. It is part of the teaching that God himself has given us in his written word. What made Resolution 1.10 such a cause of thanksgiving was that it recognised that. The phrases 'in view of the teaching of Scripture', 'incompatible with Scripture' and 'the athority of Scripture in matters of marriage and sexuality' made it clear that even Lambeth Conferences have their limitations.
Since 1998 a great deal of work has been done. The revisionists have pursued their program of departure from biblical teaching with determination. Other provinces have joined them (notably Scotland, New Zealand, and perhaps before too long England, if press reports about their General Synod are to be believed). The Global South has continued to stand firm against this trend and GAFCON has emerged as a movement of those committed to the authority of Scripture in all areas of faith and life. Lambeth 1998, encouraging as it was, has proven to be ineffectual in stemming the tide of theological and ethical revisionism nor has it provided any protection to those who upheld it. Faithful Christians have lost their churches, ministries and livelihoods as authorities have sought to silence those who resist them.
As Lambeth approaches, we need a realistic view of what it is and what it can accomplish. Above all we need to remember that it is Scripture and not the proclamations and resolutions of Councils, synods or conferences that is the clear, reliable, authoritative and life-giving guide to how to live as a faithful disciple of Christ.
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-84768067310986817672022-06-25T10:45:00.000+10:002022-06-26T07:04:54.992+10:00The Supreme Court Decision<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt7J6Efvx0sLxO_siA5BmBWfP5d40sZ-hAMI1cH-tqz9ucKPjMR6FlfSC6U33ov3M6mDYF84uRbIT69MhKJEuaifDea_F-InGuDJ5QH1qlfyeQWN9mizoK--Ce_xtpKmVB2PhA6dlRaZKFV-QrWZEUTpovAPWNy7AE9-R5KOhRLOGJ0C6qzmw" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="992" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt7J6Efvx0sLxO_siA5BmBWfP5d40sZ-hAMI1cH-tqz9ucKPjMR6FlfSC6U33ov3M6mDYF84uRbIT69MhKJEuaifDea_F-InGuDJ5QH1qlfyeQWN9mizoK--Ce_xtpKmVB2PhA6dlRaZKFV-QrWZEUTpovAPWNy7AE9-R5KOhRLOGJ0C6qzmw" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Photo: ABC News</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11pt;">No matter on which side of the abortion debate you stand, this week’s US Supreme Court decision in</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11pt;">Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization</i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11pt;">is rightly viewed as monumental. For almost 50 years the precedent established by the Court’s</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11pt;">Roe v Wade</i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11pt;">decision (1973) has stood, declaring a constitutional right to abortion in the United States. That earlier decision has been celebrated and ridiculed throughout those 50 years. The issue has become a kind of litmus test. In some places a political or legal career has seemed to depend almost entirely on where you stand on abortion. Most Christians have seen</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11pt;">Roe v Wade</i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11pt;">as an assault upon life created in the image of God. A much larger group (at least it would seem), including many Christian people, have seen this as the liberation of women from oppression, trauma and harm, and therefore an expression of the love God calls upon us to show to one another.</span></div><div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;">Since the decision was handed down the Court, individual Justices, and the decision itself, have all been ferociously attacked. When a leak revealed the likely direction the majority of the Justices would take, their homes were picketed and their lives threatened. There have already been riots in the streets of a number of US cities and the President of the United States has stated that the looming mid-term elections will be determined on this issue. It remains to be seen whether his call to avoid violence while protesting the decision will be headed.</span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; text-align: start;"></span></div><div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">However, a vast majority of people making comment about the decision have not read it and are relying upon media soundbites. It is important to recognise precisely what was done by the US Supreme Court, and in particular the legal principle which lies at the heart of the dispute. The decision does, of course, overturn a previous decision to declare that abortion is a constitutional right and in effect to legalise abortion throughout the United States. It also raises questions about the role of the Supreme Court and what is called substantive jurisprudence (or, as the opinion describes it, ‘substantive due process’, p. 14).</span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">The Syllabus of the Court’s opinion, prepared by the Reporter of Decisions, summarises the decision in this way:</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><blockquote><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion: <i>Roe </i>and <i>Casey </i>are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.</span></span></blockquote><p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">The point is made a little more fully in the majority opinion itself: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><blockquote><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives. ‘The permissibility of abortion, and the limitations, upon it, are to be resolved like most questions in our democracy: by citizens trying to persuade one another and then voting.’ <i>Casey, </i>505 U.S., at 979 (Scalia, J., concurring in judgment in part and dissenting in part). That is what the Constitution and the rule of law demand.” (<i>Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization</i>, p. 6).</span></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">So an underlying question in this case was about</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">which </i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">arm of government, the legislature or the judiciary, should decide this issue.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization</i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">concludes that this is a matter for the people, expressed through their elected representatives in state and federal legislatures. They were in effect saying that it was not appropriate for a court, even the Supreme Court of the United States, to declare a new constitutional right that is not explicitly referred to in the Constitution. Such a right might be declared. The legislatures might enshrine such a right in the laws they make. Yet they did not consider it was something within the proper jurisdiction of the courts.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;">I expect there will be some considerable debate amongst jurists and other legal experts about this underlying argument. I certainly make no claim to have any expertise in this area. Nevertheless, I think it is important to realise what was being argued and the basis on which the decision was made. If Americans want to legalise abortion there is a proper avenue to do that: through their state and federal legislatures. The majority of the Supreme Court did not believe it was their place to do that and this is why they struck down <i>Roe v Wade</i>.</span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: medium; text-align: start;"></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;">Christians in many places will be rejoicing in this decision by the US Supreme Court. Some Christians will not, and there will be outrage from some quarters. There does however, need to be a measure of restraint on all sides. I dare say a measure of humility would not go astray either. Those who champion the protection of yet-unborn life and those who champion the freedom of women to make their own decision about whether to continue with a pregnancy or not (especially when that pregnancy is the result of traumatic circumstances or threatens the life of the mother in one way or another) rarely speak with compassion towards one another. This is, in the end, entirely understandable since the stakes are so high <i>on both sides</i>. People have been scarred and traumatised <i>on both sides</i>. But before people start throwing things at each other, in either triumphalism or outrage, perhaps it might be helpful to pause and understand what exactly was said in the majority opinion.</span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: medium; text-align: start;"></span></p></span></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; text-align: start;"></span></div><p></p>Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-92135725135382875762019-09-26T11:36:00.001+10:002019-09-26T11:36:43.949+10:00The Moon is Always Round<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGlDFMIBJpwDwYNpdA2VKVSsvBIzAXee3zTtBvE13IrnYcJgfgnobcKRza-OzPo0hbMGlZ5_FWFTReupou6VDex2vrm-yqUZZzNvnR9yJejMN58tpIYCxQHInWQW1IQKKZNfENA/s1600/913Lq-5rYQL-1200x1201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGlDFMIBJpwDwYNpdA2VKVSsvBIzAXee3zTtBvE13IrnYcJgfgnobcKRza-OzPo0hbMGlZ5_FWFTReupou6VDex2vrm-yqUZZzNvnR9yJejMN58tpIYCxQHInWQW1IQKKZNfENA/s320/913Lq-5rYQL-1200x1201.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
In one of those wonderful gifts of God in the midst of darkness, I received a copy of Jonny Gibson's book <i>The Moon is Always Round </i>only a day before hearing that the New South Wales parliament had failed to protect the most vulnerable in society and had passed its Abortion Bill. Though the Bill received some significant amendments, its basic thrust remains and we have descended further into a culture of death where life has no intrinsic value, only what we decide to give it. If you want this child, that's OK. Go ahead and carry the child to full term and share your life with her or him. But if you do not want this child, for whatever reason, then this life is expendable, disposable. It was a tragic piece of news to hear that this Bill had been passed. The darkness encroaches even further.<br />
<br />
Enter Jonny Gibson's book. It is not a book for the faint hearted. A children's book treating the death of child in the womb is so extraordinary that it demands a certain serious determination. Yet this little book was enriching well beyond so many others with many more pages and footnotes and all the academic paraphernalia. It faces heartbreaking tragedy straight in the eye and it points us to a wonderful, glorious truth that sustains us in the midst of it. It is well worth reading. Pick the time, but it is well worth reading to your kids. This truth is something they need to understand, before the darkness makes its presence felt.<br />
<br />
The comfort of a commitment to life that holds firm in the worst of storms — and the line that runs through this book is just that and confidence in the God who holds all life in his hands — was a wonderful, God-given counter to the perfidy accomplished by a few politicians in Macquarie Street this week. The moon is still round. The moon is always round.<br />
<br />
Jonathan Gibson's <i>The Moon Is Always Round</i>, from New Growth Press, is available from The Reformer's Bookshop in Stanmore for $21.99<br />
<br /><i></i>
<br /><i></i>
<br />Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-68464177439362694572019-08-12T17:45:00.002+10:002019-08-12T17:51:27.622+10:00Further towards a culture of death?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf67_47OFFL3dp89N_0OfTeasAZ-JdUB_cXJf2aQVwJXqXJZMI7-gvd6WVuhcv01PX7m67dz33EXReedvuJxLSTSjb5r0vWvBEnb1kel90q5CJP6uLzFi3F4g6nEC4TT3n53n-g/s1600/Men-you-need-to-talk-to-your-unborn-children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="600" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf67_47OFFL3dp89N_0OfTeasAZ-JdUB_cXJf2aQVwJXqXJZMI7-gvd6WVuhcv01PX7m67dz33EXReedvuJxLSTSjb5r0vWvBEnb1kel90q5CJP6uLzFi3F4g6nEC4TT3n53n-g/s320/Men-you-need-to-talk-to-your-unborn-children.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from Tukundane Yonna, Uganda Capital FM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">Another tragic milestone in our country’s history was put in place on Thursday night as the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, by a vote of 59 to 31, passed legislation to decriminalise the late-term abortion of unborn children. The tragedy lies not just in the vote, but in the arguments put forward in support of the Bill and the reaction of politicians and other advocates once it had been passed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">Of course, this was simply one more step along a road that Australia and the Western world have been travelling for some time. (The reality, though, is just as alarming in the non-Western world.) The landmark case internationally was the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Roe v Wade in 1973. That decision recognised ‘a person may choose to have an abortion until a foetus becomes viable’ and defined viability as ‘the ability to live outside the womb, which usually happens between 24 and 28 weeks after conception’.</span><a href="applewebdata://C0902838-F0B0-4322-BEE3-ECC43FD4A347#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"> Various other pieces of legislation around the world, and throughout Australia have allowed abortion under certain circumstances, with specific safeguards, and limited to the early stages of a pregnancy. The decision on Thursday night (when it receives concurrence by the Legislative Council) removes a number of previously existing restrictions and so in effect extends an already existing practice in New South Wales. Yet given the scale of that extension enacted by this Bill we are justified in seeing this not simply as minor adjustment of existing legislative provisions but a genuine milestone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">According to the text of the <i>Reproductive Health Care Reform Act 2019 </i>an abortion may be performed on request where the person is not more than 22 weeks pregnant, the only condition being the informed consent of the person where there is no emergency which would make such consent impracticable.</span><a href="applewebdata://C0902838-F0B0-4322-BEE3-ECC43FD4A347#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"> An abortion after 22 weeks may be performed if, in the opinion of two specialist medical practitioners, considering all the circumstances (relevant medical circumstances together with the person’s current and future physical, psychological and social circumstances), it should be performed. The Bill also requires medical practitioners with a conscientious objection to abortion to provide information on, and transfer the person’s care to, ‘another registered health practitioner, who, in the first practitioner’s reasonable belief can provide the requested service and does not have a conscientious objection’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">There are many reasons why this is a tragedy. Even apart from the Christian objections to the practice of abortion (to which we will turn in a moment) the arguments that have led to this point raise significant concerns. The framing of the abortion debate over the past five decades in terms of a woman’s right to choose versus the unborn child’s right to life has involved a number of linguistic, legal and philosophical decisions which have rarely been examined or debated in any detail. Chief among these is the refusal of the descriptor ‘unborn child’ and an insistence upon using the word ‘foetus’ for this living entity. Yet just as significant is the grounding of these respective ‘rights’. On what basis can we determine that a right of self-determination extends to the right to terminate a pregnancy or that the right to life extends to one who is not yet able to survive outside the womb?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">How do we speak of the living reality growing inside the womb of its mother? Here, as in so many cases, the language we use is a critical part of the debate. Should we see this as a human being or merely a potential human being? May we use the language of ‘unborn child’ or ‘baby’, language that is almost instinctively used by excited, expectant parents when they view the earliest ultrasounds which reveal they are pregnant? Or is this too emotive and a way of smuggling a conclusion into the building blocks of an argument? Should we prefer the term ‘foetus’ with its appearance of greater clinical precision, or is that tantamount to a de-humanization of the unborn child which serves the interests of the other side of the argument? After all, terminating a foetus sounds far less grizzly than terminating an unborn child. If both terms have legitimacy is there a point at which one is more appropriate than the other and how is that point to be determined?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">It must be acknowledged that there has been aggressive and inappropriate rhetoric on both sides of the debate and that people on both sides have been harmed by it. Understandably, emotions run away with advocates and protesters on both sides. However, there is a growing body of evidence that public censorship has been disproportionately applied to one side. In public debates spokeswomen have been shouted down for using the terms ‘baby’ or ‘unborn child’. The Emily’s Voice poster which simply stated ‘A heart beats at four weeks’ (a statement of fact accepted by most of the medical profession) was ordered to be removed from buses in New South Wales and billboards in Tasmania. No reference to abortion or the right to life was necessary for this to be labelled ‘a guilt driven directive [to women] on what to do with their body’.</span><a href="applewebdata://C0902838-F0B0-4322-BEE3-ECC43FD4A347#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"> The use of all ultrasound pictures in the context of these debates has been decried as inappropriate and manipulative.</span><a href="applewebdata://C0902838-F0B0-4322-BEE3-ECC43FD4A347#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"> Any mention of what is actually involved in the process of abortion, especially late-term abortion, is strictly forbidden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">In the course of the debate there have been various attempts to identify a point other than fertilization at which human life can be said to begin. Suggestions have included implantation in the womb (8–10 days),</span><a href="applewebdata://C0902838-F0B0-4322-BEE3-ECC43FD4A347#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"> first sign of a distinct heartbeat (4 weeks), first movement (10 weeks), ‘viability’ or capable of life outside the womb (22–24 weeks), and full brain development (33 weeks).</span><a href="applewebdata://C0902838-F0B0-4322-BEE3-ECC43FD4A347#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; position: relative; top: -3pt;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"> There is little consensus on this, since each is part of a process which builds on what has come before. Only in the case of fertilization is there a dramatic ‘before and after’ moment in which the ovum is fertilized and begins its transformation into an embryo. Not every embryo will be born, even without human intervention, and not every embryo will proceed through each of these stages of development. Yet it is clear that it has been notoriously difficult to find any point other than fertilization at which we might say ‘Now, and not before, we have a human life’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">It is clear from the earliest stages that the embryo has a genetic make-up which is closely related but distinct from that of the mother. This fact is an important part of the scientific argument that the foetus or unborn child is not simply a part of the woman’s body. The child’s DNA comprises genetic material from both the mother and the father and is a distinct (though at this stage not separate) life. This must complicate any argument that abortion is simply the choice of a woman about what to do with her body. At least one other is involved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">One unfortunate feature of the debate has been the argument from difficult cases to a general principle rather than the other way around. The real and horrendous tragedy of rape or incest, or the cases in which the mother’s life is threatened, or the child is unlikely to survive, are argued as the reasons why we must embrace legislation such as that which passed through the New South Wales parliament last week. No one should be in any doubt of how real and extensive is the trauma associated with circumstances such as these. Yet it is a matter of public record that the vast majority of the abortions performed in 2018 across the Western world did not arise in such a context. What is more, the New South Wales legislation does not provide any context other than the informed consent of the person which would make abortion acceptable. This is abortion on demand rather than abortion in the face of exceptional traumatic circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">Yet even so, the question is rarely asked whether the circumstances of conception justify taking the life of the one who has been conceived. Were they complicit in the aggression or manipulation which brought about the conception? The rapist or the family predator ought to be held to account and bear the full weight of the law, but are there no other ways to protect the life of the innocent and minimize the ongoing trauma for the victim than abortion? I know of several couples who have had the crushing news that the baby they are joyfully expecting will not survive beyond birth (or perhaps even up to birth). Yet in those cases the parents have determined that their responsibility was to care for this child however long he or she might live. It was harrowing and heartbreaking but it was a decision borne of extraordinary other-centredness. They did not believe that abortion was the only option open to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">All of this shows how far from simple sloganeering a real engagement with the issue of abortion must be. Even before we come to specifically Christian arguments for opposing abortion, it is clear that there is reason to pause and think hard before taking this step. Even in a world that is determined to distance itself from the Christian gospel and its influence on public and private life, there are grounds for holding back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">Yet there is something distinctively Christian to think through and to say to others in this debate. All human life has an extraordinary value given to it by the One who created each of us. Every human being has been created in the image of God (Gen 1: 27; James 3:9) and for that reason every human life must be protected. The commandment against murder is the flipside of the responsibility we each have to respect and guard the lives of those around us because they are created by God and bear his image. More than that, human life, like everything else God has created, has from the beginning had a purpose and that purpose is found in Jesus Christ. ‘All things’, including each human person, ‘have been created through him and for him’ (Col. 1:16). We do not have the right to take the life of another, since their life belongs to Jesus. An assault on another human life is an assault upon the one for whom they were made.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">Does this extend to life in the womb? It is clear in the Old Testament and the New that God values the life of the yet unborn. David wrote, </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13–16)</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">Jeremiah wrote of the word of the Lord that came to him,</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">In a fascinating incident in the Gospels, when the pregnant virgin woman, Mary, visits her cousin Elisabeth, the baby in Elisabeth’s womb (later John the Baptist) leapt. Elisabeth explained the baby had ‘leaped for joy’ (Luke 1:39–45). Whatever else is made of that, it is clear that Elisabeth saw this as a testimony from the womb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">Even more significantly, though, the life of the unborn child is given a certain dignity because the incarnate Son was carried in the womb of the virgin. No doubt he could have simply arrived on the scene with a human nature fashioned uniquely and ready to embark upon his work immediately. Yet he chose to be born, and more than that, to be carried in his mother’s womb until he was born. He was made like us in every way, even in this (Heb. 2:17). Through the overshadowing work of the Holy Spirit, he took his human nature from his mother and was born as we all are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">One of the things that marked out Christians in the early centuries after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension was their care of the vulnerable, those discarded by the Graeco-Roman culture of which they were a part. A trip to the catacombs reveals a surprising number of small graves dug into the walls in the caves under the city. The abandoned and exposed children of Rome were taken in by Christians and not all of them survived. The point is, though, that these lives mattered (as did the lives of the elderly and the infirm). Of all the vulnerable, those without a voice, in that world and in ours, those yet unborn need a special care. There is no difference in value or dignity between a life that is longed for and welcomed into this world and that which is not wanted for whatever reason. It is still a life. And ultimately it still belongs to Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">There is, however, another note that must be sounded loudly and clearly whenever this subject is debated. There have been many abortions since 1973 (and, most certainly, before that too). Some with whom we speak about these things may well have had an abortion some time in their lives. Some are proud of the fact and trumpet it as part of their credentials to speak on the subject (as did a member of the New South Wales parliament last week). Others have deep regret and often, deeply buried but real and continuing grief. Some have come to Christ after the event and, engaging some of the argument presented above, have their grief compounded by a sense of guilt and shame. To those people another part of the Bible’s teaching is especially addressed. Jesus came to deal with all guilt and shame, even guilt and shame in this area. In him we all have ‘redemption, the forgiveness of sins’ (Col. 1:14). And he is able to bind up the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1; Psalm 34:18; 147:3). ‘Come to me’, he said in the midst of a broken and traumatized world, ‘all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">I believe it is a deep tragedy that we in New South Wales have gone further down the road to what Pope John Paul II once called ‘a culture of death’ with this new legislation. It is entirely the opposite to the direction we need to be travelling. Jesus Christ is all about life — life to the full and life without end. And he welcomed the most vulnerable to him. He guarded and protected them. He bore the inconvenience, the deprivation and the abuse so that they might live in freedom and joy in the presence of their Father. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"><b>While there is still an opportunity we should petition those in the New South Wales Legislative Council not to give their concurrence to this Bill. Yet even more, we need to speak of life and hope in this context of death and fear and extraordinary self-righteousness in which we find ourselves.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<a href="applewebdata://C0902838-F0B0-4322-BEE3-ECC43FD4A347#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"></span><a href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/410/113/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/410/113/</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">(accessed 10/08/2019). The spelling of fetus (in the published version) has been altered to foetus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<a href="applewebdata://C0902838-F0B0-4322-BEE3-ECC43FD4A347#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"></span><a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/bill/files/3654/Second%20Print.pdf" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/bill/files/3654/Second%20Print.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">(accessed 10/08/2019).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<a href="applewebdata://C0902838-F0B0-4322-BEE3-ECC43FD4A347#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"></span><a href="https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6234836/off-the-bus-anti-abortion-advertising-removed-from-newcastle-bus/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6234836/off-the-bus-anti-abortion-advertising-removed-from-newcastle-bus/</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">(accessed 10/08/2019).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<a href="applewebdata://C0902838-F0B0-4322-BEE3-ECC43FD4A347#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">This intensified after the misuse of ultrasound pictures by some opponents of abortion. See </span><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/01/ultrasound-woman-pregnancy/514109/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/01/ultrasound-woman-pregnancy/514109/</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">(accessed 10/08/2019) but note the corrections posted at the end of the article which reveal bias and manipulation of the facts occur on both sides of the debate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<a href="applewebdata://C0902838-F0B0-4322-BEE3-ECC43FD4A347#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"></span><a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199906103402304" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199906103402304</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">(accessed 10/08/2019).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<a href="applewebdata://C0902838-F0B0-4322-BEE3-ECC43FD4A347#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">This timeline is taken from a journal article produced in the leadup to the Irish vote on abortion in 2018, with a slight amendment due to medical advice. </span><a href="https://www.thejournal.ie/pregnancy-timeline-3979399-May2018/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">https://www.thejournal.ie/pregnancy-timeline-3979399-May2018/</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">(accessed 10/08/2019).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-72537402542941111732019-06-25T23:06:00.000+10:002019-06-25T23:06:09.679+10:00Have all our changes been good ones?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8_oxKosUSJb0F-GUVE-Q1rdMoPfmXW8c7NTm4HU_LQZYV5VDa9EL7b7NgZQXkI1hWeYY3oFwwWii80jShJ9wJN0LL24w4Za4LcPwbNXMuB3wdGFc0u5BVuZ3Nhiy0VacLoLiOw/s1600/changes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1600" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8_oxKosUSJb0F-GUVE-Q1rdMoPfmXW8c7NTm4HU_LQZYV5VDa9EL7b7NgZQXkI1hWeYY3oFwwWii80jShJ9wJN0LL24w4Za4LcPwbNXMuB3wdGFc0u5BVuZ3Nhiy0VacLoLiOw/s320/changes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getty Images/iStockphoto</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If there is any group of people on the planet who should be enthusiastic about change and transformation it ought to be Christians. At the heart of the Christian message is the change brought about by the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ. God has done all that was necessary to transfer his people from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of his beloved Son. That's change on a massive scale. By the mighty power of his Spirit, God changes the lives of individuals as he brings them to new birth, works in them to produce genuine repentance and faith, and unites them to his Son and all the he has accomplished for them. Once again, a monumental change. We look towards that day when the universe of suffering and brokenness, selfishness and abuse, disease and death, will be transformed into a paradise in which every tear is wiped away and multitudes from every tribe, language and nation join together around the throne of God and rejoice in the salvation he has won for us and given to us so freely. You don't get change on a bigger scale than that!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Christians are not frightened of change. We're excited by it and the possibilities it brings. But we are not naive about change either. Not all change is good. The change that we human beings effect can be good and beneficial or, tragically, the exact opposite. Sometimes it can actually be both: it brings about a result we gladly embrace but at a terrible cost. Think about the decision to defend the world against the tyranny of Hitler's military might and genocidal rage in the second quarter of the twentieth century. Victory over Hitler and his allies was a good thing that brought great rejoicing, but the cost was horrendous — millions of lives lost in the war, and much else besides. On the smaller scale we can all think of changes we've been involved in that have brought good and bad together, sometimes in such equal proportion that we are not at all sure we would do it the same way again if we had the chance.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So the Christian attitude to change should not be caricatured as one of fear, reluctant acceptance, or, on the other side, as one of enthusiastic and unreflective embrace. It calls for both understanding and wisdom. For that, we need some measure beyond ourselves against which we might test any proposal for change or assess the changes we have adopted without really realizing what we have done. In God's goodness he has given us such a measure in his word. Understood as a whole, with due recognition of both its <i>unity</i> as an unfolding account of God's dealings with his world (given expression in a number of different literary forms or genres – history, poetry, wisdom, prophecy, law) and its particular <i>focus</i> on the life, words and work of the Lord Jesus Christ as the fulfilment of God's purpose in redemption and new creation (i.e. it is not read flatly since the situation under the new covenant is not identical to that under the old), the Bible gives us a sure and certain expression of the mind of God. And what God gives us to know of his mind doesn't ever need to be changed because he knows all things from the beginning and is always wise and always loving.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Perhaps it is an opportune time to ask ourselves about some of the changes that have occurred in church ministry in the last little while. It would be good to begin a conversation about whether those changes are all as good as we might have thought them to be. Of course in any one of these cases we might decide the answer is an enthusiastic 'Yes!'. The change we are examining has brought us closer to a biblical pattern or principle than we have been before, or it has brought about a more effective reach into our communities with the gospel, or it has deepened and enriched the life of God's people. We shouldn't be afraid to say that if it is indeed true. We ought never to be merely reactionary or resistant to change simply because it is change. Yet we need to leave open the possibility that the change we have in mind hasn't actually done those things and may indeed have, in one or more unintended ways, taken us in the opposite direction: away from biblical patterns and principles; less effective in reaching our communities with a gospel that challenges as well as comforts, summons us to change rather than simply confirming us in the directions we are heading; or sapped the local congregation of energy, focus and life.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Could we perhaps reopen the discussion about (I have tried to be a little provocative with the questions we might be prepared to ask):</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>what it means to be a pastor-teacher</b> (have we adopted a one-sided view of this ministry? has a world of increasing specialization shaped modern conceptions of this ministry in a helpful way? has the search for effectiveness and efficiency led us to draw too heavily from secular wisdom and not enough from biblical wisdom? or has the world of the executive pastor, portfolio ministry and the annual general meeting brought us closer to biblical principles if not biblical patterns?)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>what the priority of the local congregation really means and does not mean</b> (does this mean we have no responsibilities beyond the local group with whom we meet? or is any sense of such responsibility a distraction from Christian discipleship and gospel mission? is 'independence' a biblical way of thinking for a Christian person, a minister of the gospel, a congregation of God's people, even a fellowship or denomination? might we not belong to more than one congregation in a particular location? for those in Sydney, have we rightly understood <i>all</i> that Robinson and Knox were teaching us?)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>the implications of the biblical idea that God's people gather around God present in his word and by his Spirit</b>, if we accept that is indeed a biblical idea (does our understanding that God is always present with his people really require us to reject any suggestion that we meet with God when we gather around his word? does the way a word like 'worship' has been or is being misused in some circles really mean we should never use it, or never use it of what we are doing when we gather with his people? what is the significance of worship as all of life (Rom 12) and the absence of worship language in the NT to describe what we actually do when we gather? is there such a thing as 'corporate worship'? is church a purely horizontal or even predominantly horizontal phenomenon since all of life is lived <i>coram Deo - </i>before God's face/in God's presence?)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>the place of the Sunday sermon in the ministry of the word of God to his people in this particular place</b> (is an emphasis on preaching really biblical? or is there something particularly appropriate about making the sermon the centrepiece, though not the only piece, of word ministry in our churches? what does preaching do that other forms of word ministry do not or cannot do? what actually is the relationship between preaching and pastoral care? how do we avoid the danger of preaching abstracted from real relationships or the cult of the celebrity preacher?)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>the evangelistic 'temperature' of our local churches </b>(are we concerned about those who are lost outside of Christ in our local community? is evidence of that concern something we expect of each other? is it an indispensable part of Christian discipleship? how do we kindle and maintain a global evangelistic mission among our people, particularly when there is increasing pressure from our culture to keep faith private? can we maintain evangelism as a priority and do the work of an evangelist even if we are not a 'big E evangelist'?)</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There is always the danger that when there is a perceived threat from without (e.g. an increasingly hostile culture - or at least increasingly hostile, and often self-appointed, spokespeople for our culture) that we will turn inward and become preoccupied by internal questions. I am not suggesting that for a moment. Nor do I retreat a millimeter from what I said at the beginning of this post: we of all people should be enthusiastic about change and the opportunities it brings. Yet I want to us also to face the hard question about whether some of the changes we have enacted, embraced or undergone in the past few decades have really promoted gospel mission and growth or, quite against all expectation and intention, actually hindered it. We want to see the world reached and men and women all over it saved. We are willing to make the changes necessary to realise such a vision. Yet as one man famously put it, 'we need to be careful lest, in attempting to remove roadblocks, we instead dig up the road!'</div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-67587517946312381812018-09-07T23:38:00.000+10:002018-09-08T11:20:59.951+10:00Donald William Bradley Robinson (1922-2018)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-a9stni41y5EMZWi2LkHHWw2TovWbL9rBhhmB7Vg4uBxKrxIw-z9DduP5PS3DL4joNR2ws-36xi5TVXRtTUegO_-F8QOGghL7BY6LD45b0xV6AddWcizwXgsak9yioTL8l3jGUA/s1600/dwbcrop_news_419_230_c1_c_c__1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="419" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-a9stni41y5EMZWi2LkHHWw2TovWbL9rBhhmB7Vg4uBxKrxIw-z9DduP5PS3DL4joNR2ws-36xi5TVXRtTUegO_-F8QOGghL7BY6LD45b0xV6AddWcizwXgsak9yioTL8l3jGUA/s400/dwbcrop_news_419_230_c1_c_c__1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Courtesy of Ramon Williams</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We at Moore College rejoice today that our dear brother and father in the faith, Archbishop Donald William Bradley Robinson AO, has been called home to be with Christ, 'which is better by far'. The debt we owe to this faithful disciple and Bible teacher is truly incalculable. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, many of whom do not even know his name, have been shaped in their reading of the Bible by the approach to biblical theology that he pioneered at Moore College in the 1950s and 1960s. Graeme Goldsworthy's <i>Gospel and Kingdom </i>and Vaughan Roberts' <i>God's Big Picture </i>have taken that approach around the world.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Donald William Bradley Robinson was born on 9 November 1922, the son of a clergyman in the Diocese of Sydney. He studied classics at Sydney University, graduating in 1946, and theology at Queen's College, Cambridge, graduating in 1950. He then returned to Sydney where he served at St Matthew's Manly and then in 1952 at St Philip's Sydney, while at the same time commencing as a Lecturer in Old Testament at Moore College. Two years later he was appointed a senior lecturer at the College, this time concentrating on New Testament. When Broughton Knox became Principal of Moore College in 1959, Donald became his Vice Principal. Their partnership would prove to be one of the most fruitful in the history of Australian Christianity, both in terms of theological stimulus and evangelical churchmanship: Donald the creative biblical scholar whose commitment to what the words of the text actually say was almost relentless; and Broughton the insightful theologian who addressed many of the same issues at the larger conceptual level and who refused to be a prisoner of theological or ecclesiastical convention. They were genuinely formidable. Donald stayed at Moore College alongside Broughton until he became Bishop of Parramatta in 1972 and he was elected Archbishop of Sydney in 1982. He retired in 1993. Donald and his wife Marie (Taubman) were blessed with four children: Martin, Peter, Annie and Mark.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIwNOH3tbGQVeA-luJ3nVBf1w9fTTBXhyphenhyphen3ZB0v48pDRE99kfGhjxAtLRC3AbTAKTTiSLsWC3OPfLDwxtPMAZYzRX8028Nc2hyQbxJT1y1Yktw2x6Q4fN7i4GrKGb7bxaA7UpkAw/s1600/Page%252B1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1162" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIwNOH3tbGQVeA-luJ3nVBf1w9fTTBXhyphenhyphen3ZB0v48pDRE99kfGhjxAtLRC3AbTAKTTiSLsWC3OPfLDwxtPMAZYzRX8028Nc2hyQbxJT1y1Yktw2x6Q4fN7i4GrKGb7bxaA7UpkAw/s320/Page%252B1-1.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">From Graeme Goldsworthy's <i>Gospel and Kingdom, </i>p. 32</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In his early years on the Moore College faculty Donald constructed a course on Acts and another on the doctrine of the church, and from these came a special course on biblical theology. His colleague Broughton Knox described this innovative course as one which 'related the two testaments to one another so that they could be seen as one and their doctrines become the framework of a student's future studies and ministry' (<i>Donald Robinson Selected Works Volume 3 </i>(ed. E. A. Loane; Sydney: ACR/MTC, 2018), 3). In time it would become one of the most valued courses in the entire College curriculum and it continues to be one of the College's most significant distinctives.<br />
<br />
Graeme Goldsworthy was a student of Donald's in those days and he tells the story of how, in response to a student's question, Donald sketched what would become the famous 'coat hanger' diagram of biblical history. Donald was able to excite his students, not least because he was able to see thematic connections across the canon that had gone unnoticed by many. He asked questions they had never thought of asking and helped them see the text of the Bible with fresh eyes. For him the Bible was exciting, a unified whole with a dominant theme and an integrated theology (<i>DRSW 3, </i>237). He regularly asked questions such as 'how is it that the Old Testament feeds our "hope" of eternal life in Christ Jesus?' (<i>DRSW 3, </i>241)<br />
<br />
In 1996, Donald gave some mature reflections on biblical theology in a paper presented at the Moore College School of Theology. Here he explained his approach to the Bible as a whole.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
... we enunciated a biblical 'typology' using three stages in the outworking of God's promise to Abraham, that is, (a) the historical experience of the [partial] fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham through the exodus to the kingdom of David's son in the land of inheritance, (b) the projection of this fulfilment into the future day of the Lord by the prophets, during the period of decline, fall, exile and return, and (c) the true fulfilment in Christ and the Spirit in Jesus' incarnation, death, resurrection, exaltation and his parousia as judge and saviour in a new heaven and new earth. ('Origins and Unresolved Tensions', in R.J. Gibson (ed), <i>Interpreting God's Plan: Biblical Theology and the Pastor </i>(Carlisle: Paternoster, 1977), 9).</blockquote>
Many years later he told a group of students I was caring for at Moore that one of many influences on his thought in this area came when he and Broughton read what they regarded as an important article on covenant theology by Jim Packer which came out in those years. As they discussed it, Donald came to the conclusion that covenant was not in fact the basic organising principle of the Bible. He was convinced it was the promise of God that played that role. The essential structure of biblical revelation remained for him 'promise and fulfilment' rather than a succession of interrelated covenants. Covenant, while important, he argued, operates as a mechanism for conveying the more basic idea of God's promise under particular circumstances. One of the benefits of this insight is that there is no need to read the concept of covenant where the terminology is conspicuously absent, most controversially in Genesis 1–2.<br />
<br />
This attention to the overarching 'Pattern of Biblical Truth' was matched by a determination to give careful attention to the actual words of Scripture. In the 1996 paper, Donald confessed himself to be 'a thoroughgoing believer in the inspiration and the integrity of the Bible as a whole' ('Origins', 2) and just a few years earlier his colleague Broughton Knox recollected,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
He insisted on accurate exegesis of a passage. He would not allow his students to fall unchecked into the common evangelical aberration of importing extraneous ideas into the passage being expounded, just because these ideas seemed pious and helpful and were able to be connected by some word or phrase to the passage. In this way he taught his students to be honest expositors of what God is actually saying to the congregation <i>through that passage</i> (<i>DRSW 3, </i>2 emphasis added). </blockquote>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdtvk4XaHX60Ucx9JyUwKbXI_0U6MVBfi1K6rln81qxq6zKjGoH_YXTcIevVCZsRqnLxpXHzyE9dQddU3a2jeSD3k0aIPG7WhLxv4N0G2fiAJNwV0rNTTcOLFfYjlAGDuy5bPQA/s1600/1982-Robinson-Donald-news%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdtvk4XaHX60Ucx9JyUwKbXI_0U6MVBfi1K6rln81qxq6zKjGoH_YXTcIevVCZsRqnLxpXHzyE9dQddU3a2jeSD3k0aIPG7WhLxv4N0G2fiAJNwV0rNTTcOLFfYjlAGDuy5bPQA/s1600/1982-Robinson-Donald-news%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Courtesy of Ramon Williams</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I am reminded of a conversation he had with a group of young graduates of the College during an ordination retreat at what was then the Anglican conference centre Gilbulla. He had found us standing around in the bookshop looking at collections of published sermons by a very well known British preacher. 'Whenever you preach', he reminded us, 'you are doing two things. You are teaching what God is saying in this passage and you are showing those to whom you preach how to read the Bible. Over time your congregation will treat (or mistreat) the Bible the same way you do.' This perspective of preaching being an aid to each Christian's own reading of the Bible is often lost today, but it wasn't lost on Archbishop Robinson.<br />
<br />
The second area where Donald Robinson's contribution continues to be seen is his doctrine of the church. Forged against the background of a triumphalist ecumenism associated with the World Council of Churches and the struggles towards a constitution for the Anglican Church of Australia (then known as the Church of England in Australia), and once again in collaboration with Broughton Knox, Donald challenged the loose use of biblical language which gave an unwarranted theological dignity to denominations and even interdenominational structures. Taking as a starting point a careful study of the word <i>ekklesia </i>in the Bible (but going beyond word study to bring biblical-theological considerations to bear), he insisted that 'church' or 'congregation' is something that actually gathers. What is more, when such a gathering gathers, it is not so much 'part of the church' as the church in that place. It is the gathering of God's people in a particular location, gathered by the Spirit around the word of God, where relationships of care and service with one another are of very great importance. The idea of a universal earthly church is a misnomer. Believers are gathered both locally and around the throne of Christ as the heavenly church (Heb 12.22–23).<br />
<br />
This did not, of course, mean that there are no relationships, or even no obligations, beyond the local congregation. Donald was not a congregationalist, though that charge was leveled at him, or more precisely at his doctrine of the church, from time to time. The apostolic ministry; a common concern for those who are in need (as in the need of the Jerusalem saints for whom the collection was taken); a common participation in the worldwide mission of reaching the lost, as godly and gifted men and women are set apart and sent out of the local congregation to engage in that mission (<i>a la </i>Saul and Barnabas in Acts 13) — all point from within the New Testament to trans-congregational commitments. Some expositions of Donald's ecclesiology fail to do justice to this and to his own long and productive involvement at a diocesan level, not to mention his willingness to serve as a bishop and Archbishop. The priority of the local congregation and the unique dignity it carries as the arena in which a ministry of the word and sacraments is exercised and believers serve each other with the goal of building each other to maturity in Christ, did not mean each congregation could or should live in splendid isolation from all others. Too often his ecclesiology has been read selectively and piecemeal. Thankfully some fine work has been done on Donald Robinson's theology in general and his ecclesiology in particular in recent years, notably that by Rory Shiner and Chase Kuhn.<br />
<br />
A third area of impact, example, and influence has been his willingness to stand with the teaching of the Bible even when this provokes opposition both inside and outside the churches. Donald Robinson was a man of extraordinary courage. I remember the nightly news coverage of Lambeth 1988 and his almost lone stand against the tide pushing for women's ordination. 'I must do all in my power to persuade my brother bishops not to make such a departure from Scripture and the apostolic tradition', he said with both clarity and dignity. He was ridiculed by some at home and abroad for the position he held, but he refused to back away from it because he was convinced it was the teaching of God's word written. His willingness to consecrate a bishop for the Church of England in South Africa (CESA) as a gesture of peace and reconciliation in 1984, despite opposition from a number of quarters and, earlier still, his opposition to the proposed constitution for the Anglican Church of Australia in 1961, out of concern for the preservation of gospel ministry in Sydney and elsewhere throughout Australia, were also acts of biblical and evangelical courage. Sometimes he lost a debate. Very often he won. Nevertheless, the debate itself was not conducted with rancour or ill-feeling from his side. That doesn't mean he wasn't sometimes exasperating or that the debate wasn't rigorous. Yet he could take a person to task strongly in debate and yet leave the room in unbroken fellowship and, as a friend of mine mentioned just a few months ago, 'his smile could light up a room'.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdezqLj4Q3-WHX4BluKqvJxn84ZLdksv9hYQtLMYFQTtHAoYVnbNclF04gfbrMGT2sSZyOC7-pblCXHzfKIu7d8XPouWt_5E8OjTEJYXVL2oF-DOswX1xzWx9gIvB_iWuqXIMOw/s1600/05.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdezqLj4Q3-WHX4BluKqvJxn84ZLdksv9hYQtLMYFQTtHAoYVnbNclF04gfbrMGT2sSZyOC7-pblCXHzfKIu7d8XPouWt_5E8OjTEJYXVL2oF-DOswX1xzWx9gIvB_iWuqXIMOw/s320/05.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Courtesy of Chase Kuhn</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When the Moore College Library was moved into the new building at the beginning of 2017, it was named the Donald Robinson Library. He had a very significant part to play in setting the trajectory of the library towards the world class resource it is today. However, that was not the only reason it was named in his honour. His contribution to the modern College, especially through the development of an approach to biblical theology which still characterises all we teach, his willingness to sit with the text of the Bible to understand what precisely is being said and how that integrates with the Bible's overarching message, his willingness to be disciplined in his own teaching and his own practice by what Scripture teaches, is something for which the most profound thanks are due to our heavenly Father.<br />
<br />
The Lord called Donald Robinson home early this morning. He has not been well for some time and so we rejoice that he has been released from all the burdens of these last few years. We know we have lost a profoundly useful servant of the Lord, a mentor to many, a scholar, a pastor, a friend. So, alongside his family we grieve. Yet we know that to depart and be with Christ is far better, as one of Donald's heroes, the apostle Paul, once wrote (Phil 1:23). We here at Moore College benefited from his ministry even more than we know. So today we give thanks to God for the privilege it has been to have Donald among us.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-46359619932469960642018-05-27T18:25:00.001+10:002018-05-27T18:25:21.803+10:00The Irish Vote<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGdy-uwJCp9n1L0UTskb7XebaGAoVbFhsifkqRPSeA1cMo9c_T5Q8ANPPB0b85VXCpqDZ1jcsnlVBz4MUiEAaGYPmgo9mYYwf_3p4S2zIM3TzkatFHIMvvV0oKzNpBK6IEZ-TWA/s1600/Irish-referendum-A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="634" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGdy-uwJCp9n1L0UTskb7XebaGAoVbFhsifkqRPSeA1cMo9c_T5Q8ANPPB0b85VXCpqDZ1jcsnlVBz4MUiEAaGYPmgo9mYYwf_3p4S2zIM3TzkatFHIMvvV0oKzNpBK6IEZ-TWA/s320/Irish-referendum-A.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
The world's press are reporting expressions of relief and rejoicing all over Ireland since the vote on legalizing abortion. It is seen as a victory for justice and the right of women to control their own bodies. It allows a remedy when a child is conceived through violence or incest, where the criminal actions of another have consequences beyond the immediate trauma of the event — which in itself can make life unbearable for the victim. It will mean that those who wish to obtain an abortion do not have to bear the additional emotional and financial burden of travelling overseas to where such a procedure is legal, or subject themselves to unscrupulous backyard operations, hidden from official view and often risking the lives of their patients. In the light of these considerations, it seems to have a good claim to be a victory for compassion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was struck by the reaction of a co-director for the 'yes' campaign, Orla O'Connor, who rejoiced that the result was 'a rejection of an Ireland that treats women as second class citizens' (as reported in <i>The Guardian</i>). The Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Leo Varadkar, insisted that after the vote 'Ireland today is the same as it was last week, but more tolerant, open and respectful' (as reported by the BBC).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nobody should minimize the trauma associated with cases of rape, incest or the discovery that the child you are carrying will not survive long beyond birth. Where criminal activity has been involved, those who have done these things need to be brought to justice and suffer the full weight of the law. The victims of their behaviour need particular care and support. They need respect and compassion. Where the medical condition of the child or its mother is precarious, the best medical care and pastoral support should be immediately available and easily accessible. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At this point, then, it might be helpful to spell out what exactly is to be repealed as a result of the referendum vote. Article 40.3.3 of the Irish Constitution was inserted as a result of the Eighth Amendment in 1983 (which followed a referendum approving the amendment in September that year, passed by roughly the same margin as the repeal that was approved last Friday):</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right. </div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The fact that the repeal of this provision in the Irish constitution was the immediate subject of the referendum frames the entire discussion in a different and highly significant way. The referendum was about removing the protections afforded to the unborn which many saw as a necessary precursor to legislation that would allow abortion. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So the argument is that we ought not to acknowledge, let alone respect, defend, or vindicate, the right to life of the unborn. How is that justified? Well the underlying premise of the push
to legalize abortion must be either that the unborn child is not (yet) a human life, therefore has no right to life,
and so may be terminated without guilt, recrimination or legal
sanction; or, alternatively, that not all human life is of equal value and it is
legitimate to choose the physical, emotional and psychological
well-being of the mother above that of the unborn child.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The first of these possibilities is deeply problematic. It has proven extraordinarily difficult to pinpoint any moment other than conception as that in which a new human life begins. Ultrasound pictures make clear that an unborn child is not only alive and responsive to external stimulus but very quickly develops recognisably human characteristics. So compelling is such film footage that some groups have decried the public use of it in discussions of abortion. It is too hard, once you have seen a few ultrasound pictures (especially ultrasound pictures of your own child), to deny the unborn child is a human life.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The second possibility is no more secure. The goods that are being weighed against each other (in the sense of 'what is good', not commodities) are not always equal. On the one side, we are talking about life and death: will the unborn child live or die? On the other side: we <i>might</i> be talking about life and death, if the mother's life is threatened by the baby she is carrying (and, it should be remembered, the Irish pre-referendum situation allowed an abortion as an option in such cases, in line with the clause 'with due regard to the equal right of the mother'); or we might instead be talking about significant and prolonged emotional and psychological trauma, sometimes associated with the conditions under which the baby was conceived, sometimes not; or we might even be talking about financial hardship or some other reason. While, after consideration, we might conclude it is right to end one life that is threatening the <i>life</i> of another, it is not always clear that this remains the case when we are considering the <i>well being</i> of the other. We might readily acknowledge a right to life which extends to all, but may we just as easily acknowledge a right to well being which extends to all, and is to be judged equal to the right to life?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The picture is further complicated when we weigh the unborn child's right to life against a notion of <i>the same unborn child's </i>right to well being. When everything indicates that the child will be born significantly handicapped, is that enough to overcome the right to life? This raises a host of thorny questions. Where is the line to be drawn? How handicapped do you have to be before it is unfair to you to bring you into the world? Some severely handicapped men and women have lived productive lives and have made very significant contributions to the welfare of the rest of us. Even when the child will almost inevitably die soon after birth, we are still bound to ask whether this constitutes a sufficient reason not to allow the child to be brought to birth. I know two couples who judged that if they were only given nine months in which to care for this child, they were going to do everything in their power to do just that. It was heartbreakingly difficult, but in both cases, they were given something very special in the life they lost, which continues to enrich their lives today. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The trauma associated with rape and incest is real and intense and, as I said above, should never be minimalized. The best resources available should be provided to the victims of such violence and abuse. They need care and understanding, compassion and generosity, not condemnation or abandonment. A question remains, though, over whether such trauma justifies taking the unborn child's life. After all, the unborn child is not responsible for the circumstances of his or her conception. Once again we are brought back to the commensurability of the two rights we are weighing against each other.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thoughtful Christians anguish over the hard cases such as these. We value human life, all human life, because it is a gift from God. He is the one who gives life to all (1 Tim 6:13) and he is the one who has knit each one of us together in our mother's womb (Job 31:15; Jer 1:5). We know how serious a thing it is for one human being to take another human being's life (Gen 9:5; Ex 20:13; Lev 24:17; Matt 5:21–22). Yet at the same time we recognise a world where pain and grief and brokenness is the norm. Turning our back on the giver of life has meant we are surrounded by death. In such a context we must never adopt a condemnatory tone but rather exercise compassion and generosity, modelled upon that of Christ Jesus himself (Matt 4:14). Yet that compassion must arise from, and not ignore, the integrity and value of all human life as a gift of God (as it did in Jesus): born and unborn, young and old, free and slave, male and female, citizen, foreigner and refugee, 'productive' and 'unproductive', believer and unbeliever.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A society or culture cannot long survive if it fails to protect the lives and welfare of its most vulnerable members. At both ends of life (birth, with the abortion debate; and death, with the euthenasia debate — witness the rising incidence of 'involuntary euthenasia' in Belgium and the Netherlands) it seems the most vulnerable people in society, those who do not have the means to raise their voices in protest, are not being protected. There are certainly cases involving great tragedy and trauma and a genuine threat to life, in which we must exercise compassion and generosity, and these cases must just as certainly be differentiated from those where the issue is one of well-being or even convenience. Yet there is still a need for Christian men and women to stand boldly against the tide and raise their voices in defence of the defenceless.<br />
<br />
The claim that this vote is a victory for compassion is, in the end, dubious at best. No doubt, for many, the Irish referendum vote will continue to be a cause for relief and rejoicing. For some others of us, though, it is a cause for deep grief and disappointment. The immense dignity of human life — given in every instance of it by our Creator — has been dealt yet another blow and the consequences may be too horrible to imagine.</div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-59733050082955181152018-02-06T23:32:00.000+11:002018-02-09T07:33:21.393+11:00Is there a place for women on a theological college faculty?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ygq-U5Hhyb9c7lwbN9Wb2ccQSt6TK7IAG5fldIqQjB9gfZbGPAM5A07pXUAqKmexEuhwAqT9d3KkVBH1Apqv9XOzu2UHfVDDdqcxnbqTjnxlShcG80Cydg52SkCxLla5vemRog/s1600/966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ygq-U5Hhyb9c7lwbN9Wb2ccQSt6TK7IAG5fldIqQjB9gfZbGPAM5A07pXUAqKmexEuhwAqT9d3KkVBH1Apqv9XOzu2UHfVDDdqcxnbqTjnxlShcG80Cydg52SkCxLla5vemRog/s1600/966.jpg" /></a></div>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Calibri Light";
panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0cm;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoPapDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In recent days a conversation has taken place
among complementarians and a few others about whether it is appropriate for a
woman to serve on a theological college faculty (or in American terms, as a
seminary professor). The catalyst was a response by John Piper to a question on
his ‘Ask Pastor John’ podcast. John Piper, a highly respected evangelical
leader in America with deep complementarian convictions, responded with basically
a five point argument:</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Calibri Light";
panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0cm;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:36.0pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:0cm;
margin-left:36.0pt;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:0cm;
margin-left:36.0pt;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:36.0pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoPapDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:925990904;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:-1675475916 201916431 201916441 201916443 201916431 201916441 201916443 201916431 201916441 201916443;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0cm;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0cm;}
</style>
</span><br />
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Bible teaches that churches should be led by ‘a team of
spiritual humble, biblical qualified men’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The role of the seminary is to prepare men for pastoral leadership
in a congregation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The role of the professor within the seminary is not only to teach
in one of the theological disciplines, but to be ‘an example, a mentor, a
guide, an embodiment of the pastoral office in preparing men to fill the
pastoral office’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The more one succeeds in distinguishing the seminary teacher from
the pastor teacher, the more one fails to provide the kind of seminary
education enriched by the modelling of experienced pastor-mentors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It is inconsistent and ultimately unbiblical to allow women to
‘function in formal teaching and mentoring capacities to train and fit pastors
for the very calling from which the mentors themselves are excluded’.</span></div>
<br />
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Calibri Light";
panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0cm;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoPapDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Piper insists that ‘the issue is not whether women should attend
seminary in one of its programs and get the best biblical grounding possible.
The issue is whether women should be models, mentors, and teachers for those
preparing for a role that is biblical designed for spiritual men.’ He also
insists that he is not questioning ‘the competence of women teachers or [their]
intelligence or knowledge or pedagogical skill. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I share many, if not most, of Piper’s complementarian convictions.
I do not believe it is appropriate, in the light of 1 Timothy 2 and 1
Corinthians 11 and 14, for a woman to lead a church (in Anglican terms, to be a
presbyter) or to preach to a mixed congregation of men and women. However, I
lead a college which has two women on its full-time faculty, supported by
fourteen part-time women chaplains, and I enthusiastically support their roles
in our college. In addition, a number of women contribute as guests in some of
our programs, working alongside the full-time faculty. Our College (Moore
College, Sydney) has as one of its published values ‘Gender Complementarity’,
which it defines as ‘affirmation of the fundamental equality and mutual
dependence of men and women as image bearers of God, while recognising proper
differences in roles and responsibilities in life and Christian ministry’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> <style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Calibri Light";
panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0cm;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoPapDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-</style><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">However, while I respect Piper’s convictions, I do not agree with
his conclusions. Why is that? I have four reasons.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Calibri Light";
panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0cm;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoPapDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
</span></div>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The first is </span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a larger vision for the seminary</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, first as a
place of faithful biblical and theological training, which, as Piper rightly
insists, is more than a place where information is conveyed but rather a place
where pastoral care is exercised, character is shaped, convictions deepened,
and where mentoring and modelling occurs; second as a fellowship in which a
team of men and women, working alongside each other in complementary ways,
contributes to the preparation of each student for biblical, gospel-centred
ministry. Moore College trains all whom the Lord brings to us to be faithful
stewards of the word of God and sacrificial servants of his people. Our
graduates leave us to exercise ministry in a range of different contexts:
churches, schools, university campuses, chaplaincies of various kinds, and on
the mission field. In each of these contexts women are able to exercise an
effective ministry alongside men in a way which respects the God-given
differences between the sexes and the responsibilities God graciously
apportions to each. So I believe defining the role of the seminary as preparing
church pastors is too narrow and restricted. </span>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Calibri Light";
panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0cm;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoPapDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
</div>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My second reason is </span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a richer explanation of complementarianism</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">.
Complementarianism, at its heart, is a recognition and celebration of the
God-given differences between men and women within the context of the most
profound equality of the sexes. Men and women are both created in the image of
God, are both saved by grace through the atoning work of Christ, and are both
gifted by the Spirit for the edification of the churches. Yet men and women are
not merely interchangeable nor are they alternatives to one another. Both have
unique strengths to bring to a ministry team. The apostle Paul could speak of
both Priscilla and Aquila as his valued ‘fellow-workers’ (Rom 16:3). I have
already said that I am personally convinced it is inappropriate for a woman to
be the one who expounds and proclaims the authoritative word of God when men
and women gather as the church of God in a particular place. Yet this does not
mean a woman has no opportunity to use whatever teaching gifts she may have in
other contexts, nor does it mean a woman has no contribution at all to make to
the public ministry in the local gathering. Complementarianism does not mean so
emphasising male leadership that the voice of women is never heard or that no
biblical leadership of any kind or in any circumstance can be exercised by a
woman. To start with there is women’s ministry within the congregation, one on
one ministry with women in campus ministries, and women teaching women in
women’s conferences and the like. At Moore College we want to prepare women to
work alongside men in teams which reflect God’s gifting of both sexes for the
good of his church. Godly male leadership enables and enhances the appropriate
ministry of women, it does not stifle it. It makes room for the appropriate use
of the gifts of others and does not concentrate all attention on itself. The
pulpit, while critical, is not the only effective avenue for biblical
exposition in the local congregation. This is part of what needs to be modelled
in the complementarian seminary. The absence of women may unwittingly model
something else that is much less than God’s design for men and women.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Calibri Light";
panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0cm;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoPapDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
</span></div>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My third reason is </span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a higher value on teamwork</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, both in
church ministry but also in the ministry of the seminary. A college or seminary
faculty is a team of godly and gifted disciples of Christ who ideally combine
the highest levels of academic skill with sustained pastoral experience, who
are able effectively to teach at a high level with penetrating insight into the
word and the world into which the word is spoken, and yet whose passion is for
pastoral ministry in the churches. As a team, not every member is the same. It
is in fact the combination of personalities, gifts, background, education, and
passions, put to work in the context of a community where lives are genuinely
shared between faculty members, between faculty and students, and between the
students themselves, which makes the seminary such a powerful instrument in the
hands of God to prepare the next generation of gospel workers. It does not fall
on any one faculty member to have all the gifts, all the interests and
passions, all the wisdom that is needed for the shared task of equipping the college’s
students. What binds them together is a common vision, a common commitment to
the Lord and his word, a common love for all the Lord brings to study here in
this fellowship. In such a context, women on the team have a vital role to
play. They bring unique gifts and perspectives to the mix. They are more easily
able to mentor women students and provide them with an example of godliness and
faithful discipleship that both confidently and humbly works alongside men and
accepts the leadership of men. Their very presence on the faculty enables the
seminary more closely to resemble the Christian congregation and ultimately the
Christian home, where a common love and mutual respect encourages, builds and
shapes those who are learning what it is to walk with Christ. At Moore College
our full-time women faculty and part-time women chaplains are genuine leaders,
skilful teachers, compassionate guides and exemplary role models. They work
alongside men in the class room, in chaplaincy groups, at meals with students,
on the annual week-long church missions. Their contributions are valued and respected.
They play their part in shaping the college, its life and its future. Yet they
do so as women who rejoice to serve on a team where some leadership and
teaching roles are more appropriately exercised by men.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Calibri Light";
panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0cm;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoPapDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Finally, my fourth reason is </span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">an acute sense of the need</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b> </b>to train
women effectively. More than half the world are women. In our churches the
percentage is often much higher. There is a pressing need for well trained women
who are capable of discipling other women, walking with them in life, sharing
the word of God with them, guiding them in decision making and equipping them
to pass on the gospel to others. Women are in a unique position to pastor other
women, understanding the particular challenges facing a woman who seeks to live
for Christ in a world like ours. Women, as much as men, need to be deeply
grounded in the word, and while the teaching ministry of the male leaders in a
congregation has a critical role to play in this, the close quarters one-on-one
work of wrestling with living out the word, acute application and challenge, is
often more appropriately done by another woman. Of course this is not absolute,
hence the ‘often’ in the last sentence. Yet Scripture sees an important place
for more mature women teaching the less mature by word and example (Titus 2).
Training women to do this effectively is an important ministry of the seminary
and having wise, godly, gifted and knowledgeable women on the faculty enables
that to be modelled and not just taught in abstraction. It is my conviction that
complementarian churches should be at the forefront in recruiting women into
their ministry teams, showing that we value women as women and not just as the
duplicates of men. We need women who are disciple making disciples, with all
that this will uniquely mean for women, just as much as we need such men.</span></div>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Calibri Light";
panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0cm;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
p.MsoHeader, li.MsoHeader, div.MsoHeader
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Header Char";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
tab-stops:center 225.65pt right 451.3pt;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
span.HeaderChar
{mso-style-name:"Header Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:Header;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
.MsoPapDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.45pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.45pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
<br />
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So while I share the complementarian perspective of John Piper, I
come to a very different conclusion on this question. Nevertheless, I do not
wish to vilify or call into question those seminaries which, seeking to live in
obedience to the Scripture, have concluded differently. It is tragic, and
acutely embarrassing, that some contributors to this discussion have not resisted
the urge to use the most offensive imagery to do just that. There are
wonderfully faithful seminaries around the world which, seeking to follow the
mandate of Scripture, have decided that they will not put women on their
faculties, just as there are wonderfully faithful seminaries who have sought a
way to employ women alongside men appropriately and line with the biblical
teaching about the different roles and responsibilities God has apportioned to
each. Perhaps there is still much that we can learn from each other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
<br />
<br />Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-38285614115374203442017-12-24T12:12:00.001+11:002017-12-24T12:12:10.303+11:00Christmas in a time of change<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2yJxwNIQQ9eCwQCNinWD7apMTGPFbqxgji4_GOxDynW8VO_JTpV4t0pX9iAZ3WsEDaN2g2F_WM17ygtdzrUcRtUczbs5b77N2hu-IcAtfG8C4XtEpmkjAhGHxv_XyzEcCwwnww/s1600/manger-cross-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="588" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2yJxwNIQQ9eCwQCNinWD7apMTGPFbqxgji4_GOxDynW8VO_JTpV4t0pX9iAZ3WsEDaN2g2F_WM17ygtdzrUcRtUczbs5b77N2hu-IcAtfG8C4XtEpmkjAhGHxv_XyzEcCwwnww/s320/manger-cross-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from dwellingintheword.wordpress.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Christmas and its message have never been more relevant than at this moment in time. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There have been such rapid changes over the past decade—technological, cultural, social, and political changes—that the current level of nervousness and uncertainty is only to be expected. There is a growing tone of fear and anxiety in much commentary both here and around the world. What is going to happen in the Middle East over the next few months? Why hasn't the defeat of IS brought an end to terrorism in the name of religion in other parts of the world? What are going to be the international consequences of Brexit and a new US taxation regime? What will some of the more unpredictable national leaders say or do next? Are we in the West entering a new era where freedom is surrendered in the name of vested interests and political correctness? What will be the medium to long-term consequences of the unravelling of what have been our most basic common commitments about the nature and value of human life, human sexuality, the importance of family, the care of the most vulnerable? Change and uncertainty exist at so many points as 2017 draws to a close that it is easy to understand why some are overwhelmed.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yet it was precisely into a world of change and uncertainty, of military muscle and politically motivated injustice, where long-held verities were under challenge and immorality was endorsed at the highest level, and where economic disadvantage seemed to be permanently entrenched by those with power, that 'the Word became flesh and dwelt among us'. His coming was described as from the start a struggle between light and darkness and the great message of the Christian gospel is that 'the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it'. Herod might dispatch a band of thugs to slaughter the Christ child before he could grow to manhood, an angry gang of zealots might try to end his teaching career the minute he challenged their notion of privileged religious status, Pilate might surrender to the will of the mob and hand Jesus over to be crucified and even set an official Roman seal upon the door to his tomb, but the one the angel said would 'save his people from their sins' triumphed at every point. He did what he came to do, and in both rising from the dead and ascending to his Father's side, he set the seal on his victory. It had never been in doubt, not even for a moment.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Christmas is a reminder that, over and above all the petty manoeuverings of politicians of whatever persuasion, of military leaders with or without ballistic missiles, of religious dignitaries who long ago abandoned the responsibilities entrusted to them, and of special interest groups no matter how successful they are in garnering public support (at least for a while), a determined plan to rescue us from the mess each one of us have made of our lives was enacted by the God who made us and loves us. It is a reminder that God will not let go and God will always win. God entered the world he had made as one of us. He endured the conditions of human existence, especially, in the most intense way, the hostility that human beings have shown for the God who gives them life — every heartbeat, every breath. The light shone in the darkness. The darkness did all it could to snuff it out. But the darkness has not overcome it. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ten centuries before that first Christmas, King David wrote,</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 'Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us'. He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The changes and uncertainties of this present moment have not made the slightest mark upon God and his rule, nor have they in the slightest derailed his plan to 'save his people from their sins'. The harder those who oppose God's Christ work to dethrone him, and the more concerted and concentrated their efforts, the more we need to be reminded that 'He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision'. There is a reality that puts everything else in perspective. It is not that God is amused by the opposition to him. No, rather he sees the futility of such a refusal to acknowledge him, whether it be clothed in ferocity or sophisticated self-justification. It can be so serious, so measured, so confidently expressed in terms of human maturity and integrity and movement towards some social and moral ideal. Yet it is always simply the outworking of the decision made back in the Garden of Eden, to decide for ourselves what is true and what is false, what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong, without reference to God. From the beginning that has led to disaster.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
God has not abandoned us to the chaos, confusion and cruelty we have created for ourselves by that decision and all that flowed from it. In a dusty, dirty stable in a Jewish village on the edge of nowhere, during the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, a child was born. That child was God with us, the Word become flesh. He came as the answer to promises made over the centuries before, that God would act decisively to rescue human beings and to do that without ignoring the seriousness of what we have done to ourselves and to each other. The manger was a step closer to the cross where our rebellion against God and his rule was borne by him at its most intense point, and to the empty tomb where the verdict of God was given for all who will put their trust in the crucified and risen Saviour.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Christmas has never been more relevant because the conditions that made it necessary are increasingly evident all around us. Christmas is the reminder that uncertainty and change ought not to bring fear and despair because there is one thing that is entirely certain and does not change: God is still determined to rescue human beings and restore them to fellowship with himself. The key is and always has been the man who was born in that stable in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. The good news Christians have to share, the gospel, is ultimately about him. It is 'the gospel concerning God's Son'. Peace, reconciliation, good will, security — all of these are empty abstractions apart from him. Yet in him they are the most magnificent counter to the anxious spirit of our age.</div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-27921564811205108202017-11-15T08:08:00.000+11:002017-11-15T08:08:32.462+11:00The Australian Postal Survey - the realities that have not changed<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Pc5uI3xRoeKF2NT33A6bjGZv5UnM4rALnEFXWQrUt99E2IAybo8L185Mng6YLXJEdVcGb_YjIN903BRHO7AGnhq5Cz0Bb2CO8IVDu-GOWL3mC4gOGLJyQ2GKY6EryFv1sq_Q4w/s1600/ATT00003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Pc5uI3xRoeKF2NT33A6bjGZv5UnM4rALnEFXWQrUt99E2IAybo8L185Mng6YLXJEdVcGb_YjIN903BRHO7AGnhq5Cz0Bb2CO8IVDu-GOWL3mC4gOGLJyQ2GKY6EryFv1sq_Q4w/s1600/ATT00003.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from 'Quotas Documented Quality' website</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I write this just hours before the results of the Australian postal survey on 'same sex marriage' are released. I want this post to be published before the result is known—and while there are many pundits and polls predicting the result, it is not known yet—because the result, in either direction, will very likely drown out the things that have not changed. Whether there is a brief reprieve for those seeking to protect what opponents call 'the traditional view of marriage', or whether Australia will slide further down the spiral of self-destructive behaviour that the apostle Paul talks about in Romans 1, at least five things have not changed at all.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>1. God's power, authority, justice, goodness and mercy have not been impacted in the slightest by what has happened. </b>We creatures sometimes fool ourselves into thinking we have escaped the sovereign hand of God. That is what Adam and Eve thought they had done in the Garden. They could now be like God themselves and decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong. Yet neither then nor now has human behaviour made the slightest dent on the sovereign rule and care of God. God is still the Creator and Redeemer. God is still the Lord. God is still good. God's plan for humankind, and indeed the whole creation, to bring all things under the feet of Christ, has not been derailed by even a millimetre. However much one side or the other might crow or despair at the result this morning, it has not made the slightest impact on the person, power and purpose of God. 'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end', says the Lord (Rev 21:6).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>2. God's intention for marriage has not changed in any way. </b>We might change legal definitions and popular opinion. We might persuade ourselves and others that what we have done makes a real difference. Yet God is not mocked and he is never overcome. His intention remains. The only thing that is, or ever will be, worthy of the name 'marriage', is that union of a man and a woman in loving service of each other, modelled on the perfect self-sacrifice of Christ for the church. Jesus' words have not been overthrown: 'Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh"? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.' (Matt 19:4–6). We can apply words any way we wish and it will undoubtedly over time shape the way people think about the things described. However, it will not make the slightest difference to the reality which God himself created.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>3. God's assessment of homosexual behaviour remains as it has always been. </b>The distinction needs to be made (and keep being made) between same-sex attraction and homosexual behaviour. Same-sex attraction, while a product of the Fall and the disordered world which it brought about, is not in itself sinful. It is one of the struggles that human beings face in a confused world where lies persuade us every bit as much as the truth and where temptation of various kinds is the condition of human creaturely existence until Jesus returns. We must support and stand with those who struggle with same-sex attraction, just as we must support and stand with those who struggle in other areas. Temptation will come and God can enable you to resist it. Yet the unequivocal teaching of both the Old Testament and the New is that homosexual <i>behaviour </i>is contrary to God's purpose for the sexuality he created as part of us. Notwithstanding very sophisticated attempts to get around the teaching of the Bible in passages such as Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6, 1 Timothy 1, Colossians 3, Revelation 22 and elsewhere, God's verdict on this behaviour is clear and unchanged by anything we might do through the processes of human democracy.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>4. Generous treatment of those with whom we disagree and compassion towards those who are lost outside of Christ remain vital Christian imperatives.</b> Sadly the debate surrounding the postal survey has been marred by aggression, abusive language and attempts to silence those who express a different opinion. This is not the place to try and score points about which side did this habitually and which did not etc. The point I want to make is that we must treat all human beings, even, and perhaps especially, those with whom we might most strongly disagree, with genuine respect. They too have been created by our Heavenly Father and they too have been created in his image. None of us is without blame or blemish and every one of us outside of Christ is lost. Our chief concern must not be with the winning of an argument, whatever the argument is, but with seeing the person standing before us come to know the living God through a personal encounter with Jesus. The best and most important goal is to see them saved rather than convinced by us. If we fail in this area, and all of us do, we fail to display the character of our Lord who reached out to the most despised sinners of his time, not to affirm them in their sin, but to rescue them from the threat they were to their own lives.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>5. Freedom to voice an opinion that is contrary to the popular consensus or even the law of the land, and to seek to persuade others of the validity of that opinion, is vital if democracy is to survive. </b>It has been said repeatedly in the last few days in particular, that this survey has only been about the legal definition of marriage. It has nothing to do with religious or any other type of freedom. However, the conduct of the debate in Australia, and the experience of men and women in the UK, Canada, the USA and elsewhere, all make clear that it is impossible to disentangle this question from the larger question of whether men and women should be free to dissent from the majority opinion of their peers. A very basic level of freedom is under review if a person is not allowed to think, or to express their thinking, to explain or to seek to persuade others of their thinking, without sanction or retribution of one kind or another. The most repressive regimes of history have sought to control the thoughts of their citizens and to silence dissenting voices. It is convenient to dismiss this as merely scaremongering. However, enough has been said and done over the past two months to make it a matter of urgent necessity that we insist upon the protection of this freedom. An argument can be made that this is not just an ingredient of true and healthy democracy, it is the very essence of it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So whatever happens in a few hours time, these five things at least remain unchanged.</div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-54865029506943339342017-09-19T21:04:00.000+10:002017-09-20T08:35:23.362+10:00Why we should vote 'No' in the survey on same sex 'marriage'<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCn7VeVNUiskUp2LGepk6Z6KT30PNsRLN-XOlDR8UCro4JqXBnGV7R4Yr26AneVCiNs37wR1IDNx1C4dvAq8ZpDE2gX6PegMHNyG74_xtwqQyo-ko0n6mUwf691PMPaBHpX_HJYg/s1600/NoVote1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCn7VeVNUiskUp2LGepk6Z6KT30PNsRLN-XOlDR8UCro4JqXBnGV7R4Yr26AneVCiNs37wR1IDNx1C4dvAq8ZpDE2gX6PegMHNyG74_xtwqQyo-ko0n6mUwf691PMPaBHpX_HJYg/s200/NoVote1.jpg" width="131" /> </a></div>
Australia is in the midst of a critical decision about one of the major building blocks of community life: marriage and the family.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A great deal of money (including public money) and effort is being expended on the case for a change to allow people of the same sex to marry. To many it seems that the case for change is unassailable, in some measure because its advocates have been able to link their proposal to treasured notions of 'love' and 'equality'.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx89IkVAdbDtb7Zt0jO8h5amcaS6rn7C94Dv3GAp78oOdGIq-JZPeWZvuvoUXeMK3QEpDHfzad2X0ZvGo1ShcrPOyrc5gMapVi_Hbmuss3ki-I8K66C0rVoYM_wMAiX5WBEGIiqg/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="207" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx89IkVAdbDtb7Zt0jO8h5amcaS6rn7C94Dv3GAp78oOdGIq-JZPeWZvuvoUXeMK3QEpDHfzad2X0ZvGo1ShcrPOyrc5gMapVi_Hbmuss3ki-I8K66C0rVoYM_wMAiX5WBEGIiqg/s200/images.jpeg" width="170" /></a><br />
Little reflection is done on slogans generally, let alone those used in this debate. They're memorable and they're persuasive and that's all that counts. Often however, the cogency dissolves with just a little careful thought. 'Love wins', but whose love? what kind of love? and wins what? 'Love is love' but what does that mean? Aren't there genuine, celebrated forms of love that don't and shouldn't lead to marriage? 'Marriage equality', but the conclusion is assumed from the beginning. We are talking about redefining marriage so the very first word of the slogan is up for grabs. Then there is the question of what kind of equality we are talking about.<br />
<br />
A great deal has been written about this topic but it is often clouded by high emotion. I suspect many of us are horrified by the way in which those on one side of this debate have been vilified and often bullied into silence by those who are apparently espousing freedom and tolerance and equality. The news reports over the past few weeks have shown people being intimidated, meetings being disrupted, petitions to deregister professionals who express their opinion on the subject, and much more that we would have hoped would never have been part of a liberal democracy such as Australia.<br />
<br />
If you post something on social media in support of the 'no' vote in this campaign, you can expect a torrent of angry responses and even threats. Large businesses have weighed into the campaign — though they are never heard on other social issues like the refugee crisis, the rise in homelessness, the drug scourge, domestic violence — and employees who have a different opinion are quietly counselled not to put their jobs in jeopardy. All of this even though the current law of the land enshrines the view of those who are saying 'no'. It appears that in some quarters you are not even allowed to <i>think</i> in a way that questions this social engineering juggernaut. One employer recently sacked a contractor and told the press that 'advertising your desire to vote no is, in my opinion, hate speech' (Madlin Sims, reported at news.com.au 19 Sept 2017). Whatever happened to the sentiment, wrongly attributed to Voltaire, that 'I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it'?<br />
<br />
I am persuaded it is in the best interests of all Australians to vote 'no' to this proposal for change. As a Christian, I have strong biblical reasons for opposing the change: Jesus' teaching on marriage as it was intended from the beginning (Matt 19:4–6); the analogy between the union of a husband and a wife and that between Christ and the church (Eph 5:23–33); the Bible's consistent view against homosexual behaviour, as distinct from same sex attracted people (e.g. 1 Cor 6:9; 1 Tim 1:10); and the injunction to love my neighbour and seek his or her welfare (Matt 22:37–40). I find these statements of Scripture both compelling and sufficient. However, those who do not regard the Bible as the written word of God will not accept this line of reasoning. Perhaps, then, it might be helpful to summarise some of the arguments for voting 'no' without an appeal to God's revelation of himself and his purpose.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Marriage is not simply a cultural construct. </b>Marriage as the sexual union of a man and woman, and so the creation of a new family unit, is not just the invention of the West over the past few hundred years. Right across all cultures and all ages this 'institution', for want of a better word, has been a bedrock of community life. It brings together a man and a woman with the normal expectation that children will be reared in the loving care of both biological parents. It has consequences for a wider network of relations, parents, siblings, and friends. This has been the established pattern of building communities for millennia. Any attempt at change is not simply altering something that is a recent social convention. Nor, does it seem, will those who advocate it be satisfied with a modified definition. The Gay Manifesto (London, 1971) insisted that 'the very form of the family works against homosexuality' and 'we must aim at the abolition of the family, so that the sexist, male supremacist system can no longer be nurtured there'.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Changing marriage has consequences for children.</b> The family created by a new marriage is the ideal context for the rearing of children. In this context they are protected and nourished by the love of both parents, secure in the knowledge of their biological connection to both their mother and their father. Sometimes, of course, some kind of tragedy intervenes and children are separated from one or both biological parents. In such cases the care and compassion of others enables most to develop well, despite the difficulties. However, what is contemplated in this move is the intentional redefinition of marriage which would normalise separation from one or more biological parents and, more than that, make that situation itself intentional from the beginning. Most of us have no idea how serious the consequences of such a move will be for those children brought up in that new context. Anecdotal evidence already suggests that the experience is not as neutral or beneficial as many would have us believe.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Changing marriage has consequences for parents.</b> The family is ideally an environment in which both sexes are valued. Each father and mother have unique contributions to make to the family, not in subservience to some cultural stereotype, but rather as the varied natural expressions of their personalities, physical abilities, backgrounds and personal propensities. Yet where parents are both of the same sex, then the other sex is necessarily excluded at the outset from the intimate, day to day role of parenting. Where a man and a woman model mutual respect and generous care for each other, the children of the marriage have the opportunity to develop healthy, positive ways of relating to people of both sexes. Of course there are families which are dysfunctional, just as there examples of other good things in our world that are broken and not what they were intended to be. That is always a tragedy, but it not a reason to discount the myriad of functional families where children rejoice in the model of healthy relations between the sexes. Yet once again to change the definition of marriage to allow the deliberate exclusion of one sex from the role of parenting is far more than the provision of care for those whose experience is not all it should be.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Changing marriage has consequences for society in general.</b> You don't alter one of the basic building blocks of a society without affecting the society as a whole. Society relies for its future on healthy marriages producing more or less well adjusted children, young adults and in time the next generation of adults. Where marriage and families are put in jeopardy by such a revolutionary change to their very definition, we have every reason to expect the loosening of other ties of community. This will show itself increasingly in a devaluing of those who disagree with us in one way or another. The concern that certain basic freedoms will be under threat should this change be made is much more than mere scare mongering or self interest. The behaviour of some during this campaign has proven this to be a very reasonable expectation. If while the law is not changed, those who are simply saying what the law says are vilified, excluded, threatened with being deprived of their livelihood or worse, if our thoughts and opinions are being policed by others, if the message being promoted through schools, universities, and the media leaves no room for disagreement, we have reason to be concerned that a change in the law will lead to a further erosion of freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of religion.<br />
<br />
These are not the only arguments against the change that is proposed. Yet even without recourse to religious arguments (and their exclusion from the debate is an issue in itself) there are good reasons to vote 'no' in the current postal vote. For the sake of children, parents, and society in general, such a redefinition ought not to be attempted.<br />
<br />
Of course the call for respect towards those with whom we differ, which has been a feature of the arguments above, must move in both directions. There is no justification for vilification, exclusion or violence towards those with whom we might disagree on this issue. Saying 'no' should have nothing to do with hate or bigotry; neither should such behaviour have anything to do with saying 'yes'. It will not provide the protection of treasured values that some seek or the legitimisation of their choices that others seek. It seems we have fallen far short in this debate of the ideals of liberal democracy when alternative arguments are not allowed to be heard and those who disagree face retribution of one kind or another.<br />
<br />
The proposal itself together with its inevitable consequences should be enough to encourage people, whatever their political or religious affiliation, to think again before they cast their vote in the current survey. That some of those consequences are being anticipated in the events surrounding the vote should itself confirm the wisdom of saying 'no'.<br />
<br />
<i>For a very helpful treatment of the issues surrounding the gospel of hope and the reality of same sex attraction, see S. Allberry, <u>Is the Bible anti-gay</u>? (New Maiden: Good Book Co, 2103). A shorter blogpost by the same author can be found at </i><a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-can-the-gospel-be-good-news-to-gays">https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-can-the-gospel-be-good-news-to-gays</a><br />
<br />
<b><i>In accordance with s 6(5) of the Marriage Law Survey (Additional Safeguards) Act 2017, this blogpost was authorised by Mark Thompson, of Sydney, NSW.</i></b></div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-69702358403016109482017-08-09T12:16:00.003+10:002017-08-09T22:00:49.618+10:00Luther and his most important impact<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XTEi0GFqIzWDCUOIoYtGaZ5CXJ95nz7bVE45q3qu-TKzz9cZGBnmfqsmfeLTqdzato9u_i2kfeq0fnDSGWv1cocgjbPrq1UwRIFk6QkBbHRD9AdO_IPC_hcquLrFiFQOzLNVpw/s1600/The+Doctor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XTEi0GFqIzWDCUOIoYtGaZ5CXJ95nz7bVE45q3qu-TKzz9cZGBnmfqsmfeLTqdzato9u_i2kfeq0fnDSGWv1cocgjbPrq1UwRIFk6QkBbHRD9AdO_IPC_hcquLrFiFQOzLNVpw/s320/The+Doctor.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>What follows is a slightly extended version of an address delivered at the opening of the Luther exhibition at St Andrews Cathedral, Sydney on Tuesday 8 August, 2017.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto black"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The Beginnings of the Luther Story<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto black"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">On 31 October 1517, in a small provincial university
town, an Augustinian monk who served as a professor in the university, nailed a
document to a church door. And it started a revolution. Today, 500 years later
and on the other side of the world, that unexceptional act — there would have
been lots of notices on that door, since it was the unofficial notice board for
the university — still captures the imagination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The story of Martin Luther is well known. More books
are written about him every year than about any other figure in history save
one — the master he served, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was born the son of a
copper miner in the year 1483, just nine years before Columbus discovered
America but a little over 300 years before tall ships arrived in Port Jackson
to start the colony of New South Wales. He grew up in a quite typical German
family, nothing really out of the ordinary. He was serious and studious and was
soon preparing to enter a career in the law. Like most fathers, Luther’s father
had great plans for his son. Martin would not struggle the way he, Hans had
struggled. He would make his mark in the world. Hans Luther had no idea the
mark his son would make. Martin entered university, the University of Erfurt, in
April 1501.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The younger Luther’s life took a dramatic turn in July
1505. Martin had finished the first stage of his studies. The general arts
program was finished and the more specifically legal studies were about to
begin. He travelled home to visit his parents. But then, just outside the
village of Stottenheim, he was caught in a violent thunderstorm. He was
terrified. Here was the fearsome wrath of God, and if anyone deserved that
wrath Luther did. He cried out for someone to save him. ‘St Anne — the patron
saint of miners — St Anne rescue me and I will become a monk!’ And before long
the storm subsided and Luther continued his journey home. He gathered his
friends, who may have thought they were coming to celebrate Luther’s
achievements thus far and send him on his way back to the University of Erfurt,
and he told them of his intention to keep his vow and enter the monastery of
the Observant Augustinians. His father was furious — he kept muttering things
about the fifth commandment. But Luther was determined. He had made a vow and
he was duty bound to honour it. And so, on 17 July 1505 he entered the
monastery at Erfurt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Luther never thought he would leave that monastery. He
expected that he would be a monk for the rest of his life. Not that it was
always a pleasant place to be. Thanks to his own later reflections, we have
some idea what life was like for Luther in those surroundings. He was a
conscientious monk. ‘It is true, I was a pious monk’ Luther wrote, ‘and so
strictly did I observe the rules of my order that I may say: If ever a monk got
to heaven through monkery, I too would have got there’ (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WA </i>38:143). Luther fulfilled all his duties. He confessed his sins
over and over again. He prayed. He attended mass. He did all the menial tasks —
cleaning the latrines, scrubbing the floors — all of it. Later he would
say, ‘This is the chief abomination: we had to deny the grace of God and put
our trust and hope on our holy monkery and not on the pure mercy and grace of
Christ…’ (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WA </i>38:159).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The next great transformation happened about five years
later. Luther’s father confessor, who had watched him, sought to mentor him,
encouraged his undoubted intellectual gifts, announced that Luther would do
more study in order to lecture at the new university in Wittenberg. Luther
would spend the rest of his life in that provincial town, radically
transforming the university curriculum, then the church, and eventually Europe.
He began as a Professor of Bible in 1512. He only left that post when he died
in 1546. And rather early on was 1517. 500 years ago this year. 1517, the year
that sparked a revolution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto black"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The Two Catalytic Disputations</span></b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto black"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">One of the things Luther did as a university professor
was write. He wrote and wrote and wrote. The publishers and printing presses
could not get enough of what he wrote. So many of his works are worth reading.
They still work as evocative pieces of communication 500 years later and even
in translation. He wrote with passion and with force and with an unshakeable
conviction in the urgency and truth of what he had to say. In 1517, that
fateful year, he wrote two pieces of particular interest, each of them
signalling a dramatic change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The first of these was his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Disputation against Scholastic Theology. </i>It was his great break
with the dominant way of writing and teaching theology in the medieval church.
The great Luther biographer, Martin Brecht of the University of Munster, spoke
of it as his ‘declaration of war on scholastic theology’ (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Luther, </i>I:161). He railed against the way philosophy had distorted
theology. ‘It is an error to say that no man can become a theologian without
Aristotle’, he wrote. ‘Indeed, no one can become a theologian unless he becomes
one without Aristotle’. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LW </i>31:12). Aristotle’s
problem was that he did not understand grace. How could he? He had not encountered
Christ. ‘We do not become righteous by doing righteous deeds but, having been
made righteous, we do righteous deeds’ (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LW
</i>31:12) — that was a statement with profound implications. And that is why
‘virtually the entire <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ethics </i>of
Aristotle is the worst enemy of grace’. ‘What the law [of God] wants, the will
never wants, unless it pretends to want it out of fear or love’ (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LW </i>31:14) Luther systematically
dismantled the foundations of what had been taught in the universities and schools
for centuries. ‘Hope does not grow out of merits’, he insisted, ‘but out of
suffering which destroys merits’ (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LW </i>31:12).
In other words, you cannot secure your own future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You cannot earn your way into God’s favour,
or even contribute to it. God must save us, from beginning to end. It hit the
printing presses in September and began to cause a stir immediately. Theologians
all over Europe were furious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">But that disputation was very quickly overtaken by a
second. Luther published his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Disputation
against the Power of Indulgences, </i>better known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The 95 Theses, </i>on 31 October 1517. That date has been celebrated as
Reformation Day ever since.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The very first of Luther’s theses set the
tone: ‘When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent”, he willed the
entire life of believers to be one of repentance’ (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LW </i>31:25). The pope can only remit penalties he sets, he cannot
remit the penalties for sin he does not set. That is God’s prerogative alone.
“it is vain to trust in salvation by indulgence letters, Luther wrote, ‘even
though the indulgence commissary, or even the pope, were to offer his soul as
security’ (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LW </i>31:30). The piece of
paper promising your release from purgatory in return for payment, or the
release of someone you love from purgatory, again in return for payment, is
worthless. And so, perhaps most famous of the 95, thesis 27: ‘There is no
divine authority for preaching that the soul flees out of purgatory the moment
money clinks in the bottom of the chest’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Luther had titled it a disputation against the power
of indulgences. Those in Rome immediately saw the consequences: it was in fact
a disputation against the power of the pope. And so they went on the attack at
once. Luther had to be silenced. His theses would unravel the cords by which
ordinary people were bound to the ministry of the priest and the authority of
the pope. Luther was not just criticising abuses — this had been done before.
He was challenging the theology that undergirded the abuses. This was dynamite
and they knew it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto black"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Luther’s Impact</span></b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto black"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Luther’s impact was extraordinary. His theses were
read all over Europe. Lives were changed. Patterns of thinking, patterns of
church life, patterns of community and family life, even patterns of government
— all changed. He put the Bible at the centre of the life of the church in the
place of tradition; the family at the centre of the life of the Christian
community in the place of the monastery; Christ the Saviour at the centre of
Christian devotion in the place of Mary and the Saints and Christ the Judge. He
translated the Bible into vernacular German in eleven weeks and transformed the
German language in the process. He created the model pastor’s home when he
married Katherina von Bora in 1525.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Luther engaged in debate some of the greatest minds of
the age: Johann Eck, the renowned debater took Luther on in the Leipzig
Disputation, tried to label him a heretic, but only succeeded in helping Luther
to see Scripture was the only authority for theology and Christian living;
Desiderius Erasmus the humanist was eventually persuaded to come out against
Luther but his little tract on free will was completely overshadowed by Luther’s
take-no-prisoners response, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bondage
of the Will</i>; Huldrych Zwingli, the Swiss reformer, could not win against
Luther at Marburg; Luther’s colleague Andreas Bodenstein, also known as
Karlstadt, lost out when he challenged Luther and argued for a more radical
reform; Johann Agricola, Luther’s able student, thought he was more Lutheran
than Luther and had to learn his place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Luther was certainly no saint. Fiercely intelligent, without
a doubt. Generous with those who opposed him, not at all. His language could
become extreme, as in his writing against the peasants in 1525 or his later
writing against the Jews in 1543. It is hard not to be offended as you read
those tracts today. I wish he had had never written them. But the most venom
was always reserved for the Pope and the Roman church. The peasants may have
courted anarchy, that terrible work of the devil. The Jews had not converted <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">en masse </i>as Luther thought they would
when the gospel was recovered. But the Pope had robbed God’s people of their
greatest treasure, profited from misery, and taught false doctrine which
enslaved those for whom Christ died. ‘The Pope is the antichrist’, Luther
concluded, the instrument the devil uses to pollute the world and oppose the
work of God in the gospel. He didn’t mince words when he was angry. And
sometimes the language was foul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto black"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Luther’s courage</span></b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto black"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Yet there were wonderful moments of extraordinary
courage, when all the odds were stacked against him. His stand against Cardinal
Cajetan — who insisted on only one word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">revoco,
</i>‘I recant’ and got so much more than he bargained for. His stand against
Eck at Leipzig in 1519, berated for hours by a man who even his friends
recognised as a verbal bully, and still refusing to budge. His stand before the
Emperor, the princes of Germany, and the officials of the Roman church at the
Diet of Worms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The appearance at Worms was a magnificent piece of
drama. It had been anticipated for months. The Pope had given strict
instructions Luther was not, under any circumstances, to be allowed to give a
speech. The Emperor was already determined this upstart monk must be silenced.
Luther’s prince had put in place a contingency plan in case it all went wrong.
All the way to Worms Luther was shaking. He did not fear death — that was
almost certain under these circumstances. He feared most of all that when it
came to the test he would buckle and give in. He feared the devil would win.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">On the appointed day he entered the room and there was
a table laden with his books and tracts. He was taken to examine them and led
to his place. Two questions and only two questions were to be put to him and he
was instructed to answer simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. ‘Are these your books?’ Of
course they were. They had his name on them after all. ‘Will you recant?’ This
was the question everyone had been expecting and this was the answer everyone
wanted to hear. It was a moment of high drama. The princes leaned forward in
their seats. And then Luther, who knew very well how to milk a moment for all
it was worth, asked for 24 hours to consider the question. You can imagine the
sense of anticlimax. You might imagine the frustration and the anger at this
manoeuvre. After all, hadn’t he expected precisely this question? Shouldn’t he
have been prepared? But the time was granted, though not without a few barbed
comments from the Emperor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The next day Luther was led into the room again. The
table was still there. And the books. ‘Are these your books?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Will you
recant?’ At which point Luther astonished everyone by questioning the
questioners. ‘But you do not want me to recant them all, do you? They are not
all the same. There are three kinds of books here. Some of them are devotional
works, on the creeds and the Lord’s Prayer. No one says anything against those
books. You don’t want me to recant them, do you? And then there are those written
in the heat of debate, and perhaps he had spoken too harshly in those. But the
others are simply explanations of the teaching of the Bible, on grace and
Christ and the gospel, and no one has yet shown me that they are wrong. If I am
shown they are wrong from Scripture, then I’ll gladly recant. But no one has
done that yet.’ It was a masterstroke. He had found a way to give a speech and
to make his case. His enemies were furious. ‘Yes or no’, they screamed. ‘Yes or
no’. ‘Without elaboration. Without horns or teeth.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">And that’s when Luther did it. That’s when he said,</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Since then your serene majesty and your lordships seek
a simple answer, I will give it in this manner, neither horned nor toothed: Unless
I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do
not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that
they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the
Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I
cannot and will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go
against conscience. I cannot do otherwise. Here I stand. May God help me. Amen.
(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LW </i>32:112–3)</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The official stenographers didn’t get the last few
lines. Pandemonium had broken out in the hall. Luther was taken out by his
friends, drained but rejoicing that he had come through the test. In a few days
on the way home he would be kidnapped by his own prince in order to keep him in
safe custody in the Wartburg, the castle just outside of Eisenach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto black"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Luther the theologian</span></b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto black"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The Luther story is full of high drama — before,
during and after Worms. He was a genuinely extraordinary man. A German
theological professor, in a small, new and little known university, trembling
and fearful, had upset the entire world. And the consequences are still felt
today. But it began, in a very real sense, a few years before Worms, in 1517,
when Luther called teachers and students back to the Bible and away from
sterile philosophy and scholastic folly, and when he called men and women back
to a life of repentance and faith in response to God’s extraordinary mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Luther has been co-opted for all kinds of projects
since his own time. He has been the proto-German nationalist, the forerunner of
Marxism and communism; the first historical critic of the Bible, the man who
would challenge that criticism on the basis of the Bible’s own message; one of
the great exponents of introspection and despair, the man who pointed us out
beyond ourselves to a work done <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for</i>
us first and only then <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in</i> us. He was
a statesman, a counsellor, an educator, a guide, a musician. But he was always,
first and foremost, a theologian who taught about Jesus from the Bible. He
changed language, politics and society but that is not what he set out to do.
First and foremost he wanted to talk about God and the great thing he has done
by giving his Son so that the guilt we like to pretend does not attach to us,
our estrangement from the God who made us, our corruption and pollution, and
our enslavement to desire and to the devil and his schemes, might be dealt with
completely and forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">That is what he was on about. I recently heard
repeatedly the suggestion that the Reformation Luther began should be summed up
simply in the words ‘freedom’ and ‘responsibility’. Luther himself would have
summed it up very differently and used a single, very different word. He was
all about ‘Christ’. His preaching was about Christ. His lecturing was about
Christ. His writing was about Christ. His counselling and everything else was
about Christ. Luther didn’t just insipidly endorse the values of our culture or
his own. He challenged us all with Christ. What have you done with Christ? Have
you laid aside your self-importance and self-preoccupation and taken hold of
Christ? That is what Luther’s reformation was about from beginning to end.
Everything else was and is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">die Mache, </i>window
dressing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto black"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Conclusion</span></b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="382">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; line-height: 115%;">In
the 30 posters which make up this magnificent exhibition, your will see a
celebration of aspects of Luther’s life, the breadth of his impact, and his
continuing relevance. But you will see more than that as well. You will see
spelt out for you the wonderful truth at the heart of all he was and all he
did. Luther and the other reformers of the sixteenth century recovered for us a
message that is every bit as urgent today as it was then. We too need to hear
about the futility of our attempts to prove ourselves and secure our own
futures. We too need to hear that our only hope is Christ. We too need to hear
that our response is most properly repentance and faith. I trust you will enjoy
this exhibition as much as I have. We owe a debt of thanks to the German Consulate for its part in making this possible. I hope that it will perhaps whet
your appetite to find out more about Luther, more about the Reformation, but
most of all — certainly Luther would have wanted this most of all — that you
might find out more about Jesus Christ. </span><!--EndFragment--></div>
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "roboto light"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-45880329604464006022017-05-11T08:15:00.003+10:002017-05-11T20:04:43.098+10:00The Jesmond Consecration<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj011rl_q_eJDeHw1F32DWiGWeatTLFi6Y-IWlPW-gMBavLva1uISyceoKc2jYUDZv-qRlkAJ948ogED1DPA-mxqSSgGsLd9s5fKK46RAWiVyez_94RTT1M21k-kYZJBHFhN0abbQ/s1600/pryke.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj011rl_q_eJDeHw1F32DWiGWeatTLFi6Y-IWlPW-gMBavLva1uISyceoKc2jYUDZv-qRlkAJ948ogED1DPA-mxqSSgGsLd9s5fKK46RAWiVyez_94RTT1M21k-kYZJBHFhN0abbQ/s320/pryke.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church Times picture of Bishop Pryke</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In October 1517 Martin Luther began a revolution. He had not intended to do so. His concern was that the church he loved might see the danger it was in and make a stand with him on the teaching of Scripture. It was a rather innocuous act at first sight, the posting of notice of a university debate. Yet the reaction to Luther's 95 theses and the subsequent action of this faithful Christian leader in the church and university of Wittenberg demonstrated quite clearly the determination of the institution, the entire hierarchical structure extending to the Pope in Rome, to resist reformation and to continue on its path of false teaching and unfaithful practice. They would not stand with him but opposed him with every weapon in their armoury. Before long, Luther and those around him would need to train and authorise faithful leaders for the churches in Germany and elsewhere. When the institution had failed so badly and was so demonstrably committed to directions contrary to the word of God, something needed to be done. They could no longer wait for the institutional structures to embrace reform and sit again under the word of God come what may. Desperate times call for desperate measures.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
500 years on there are places all over the world where a new reformation is sorely needed. The Church of England is a case in point. There are many faithful men and women within the Church of England who teach, believe, and live out the teaching of the Bible. There are many faithful vicars and church workers and at least one faithful theological college where men and women are trained for a biblical ministry in the Church of England. There are even a few biblically faithful, godly, evangelistically-minded bishops in the Church of England. The picture is certainly not uniformly black. Yet for decades the structures of the Church of England have proven resistant to reform in the light of the Scriptures. Unbelief and immorality are not challenged but excused and, more recently, embraced. When the faithful are attacked for seeking to live out the same quiet, biblical faith as the sovereign, they find little support from the hierarchy of the Church of England, and whatever support they do receive is heavily qualified. The leadership is powerless or unwilling to act. When the faithful have cried out for protection against the predatory liberalism within the Church of England, which masquerades as tolerance and sophisticated broad-mindedness, little or nothing is done. Quietly the stranglehold of unbelief on the structures of the Church of England gets tighter and tighter. The disdain with which evangelical churches and institutions are treated is obvious and the subtle and not so subtle attempts to pressure them into conformity have continued to increase. The nation needs to be re-evangelised and meanwhile the bishops seem entangled in endless debates about legalities and how they might baptise the cultural consensus. Desperate times call for desperate measures.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On 2 May the Revd Jonathan Pryke, a long serving member of the ministry staff at Jesmond Parish Church, was consecrated as a bishop in the the north of England. It was an entirely valid and legal consecration, though irregular. It was not initiated or sanctioned by the hierarchy of the Church of England. The consecrators were bishops of the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa (REACH-SA). The action was taken independently of bodies such as the AMiE (Anglican Mission in England) and GAFCON. It is regrettable that it has come to this, yet time and again every attempt to bring the Church of England back to the teaching of Scripture has been blocked by bishops, the General Synod, or the committees and organisations of the church. Those out of fellowship with their bishop over a number of doctrinal and ethical issues have had no support or encouragement from the leadership of the church. The so-called 'provision' for conscientious dissent has proven to be ineffectual in many cases, since it requires the permission of the local bishop who may well be entirely opposed. The faithful have waited and waited and now some have judged the time has come to act.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bishop Pryke is a godly man who is committed to the teaching of the Scriptures. He is a conscientious Anglican who believes the classic doctrine of the church as expressed in the 39 Articles and the Book of Common Prayer. His godly character is attested by those who have observed him in ministry over many years. He is an entirely appropriate candidate for leadership among God's people. The consecration is valid, there can be no doubt about that. It is, however, irregular, but that irregularity is borne out of the desperate situation in which believers who remain within the Church of England find themselves. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Already there have been threats of legal action and the accusations and denunciations have begun. Of course it is permissible for evangelical Anglicans in England and elsewhere to conclude 'I would not have done it that way'. We must not copy the tactics of coercion used by others and insist on a uniformity of opinion. Nevertheless, the impasse between evangelicals (often labelled 'conservative evangelicals' in the UK) and the church hierarchy could not continue forever. Something has had to be done and now a group of faithful men and women have acted. Even if I wish there had been another way to do this, I still want to pray, encourage, and support those who have been courageous enough to act. In particular, I want to support Bishop Pryke in prayer. I will pray that he will provide the kind of leadership that has been lacking in the Church of England and that he will provide effective pastoral care for those who have felt stranded and isolated within their own church.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There were those in Luther's time who thought 'now is not the time' and 'we can still work within the existing structures' and 'it's not as bad as you make out'. Yet he — with all his flaws — was God's instrument in bringing lasting and beneficial change to the Christian churches. The biblical gospel was recovered and, though it was not called this at the time, a work of re-evangelising Europe was begun. We can look back from 500 years on and say 'Yes, it was the time'. My hope is that we will look back at the events of last week and give thanks to God that this was a pivotal moment in a movement that sees the gospel, and the Lord of the gospel, honoured and treasured again throughout England.</div>
<br />
<br />Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-24378853749517089532017-02-18T07:48:00.002+11:002017-02-18T08:49:26.100+11:00The pernicious evil of the prosperity gospel and the theology of the cross<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizvIlWXlg5uxn5NGAnofmBZH7Qx73qvF8GKRNWpsHCLZAxpPR0xJWB-2vaLsl54QxZaNxm4kAmwouMqZAMGSuTDEafFcLuyDu-V1sIE37ra4yPua_WoyBQmIXQmjJRQi0OaY_Rw/s1600/prosperity0909_350_234_90_350_234_90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizvIlWXlg5uxn5NGAnofmBZH7Qx73qvF8GKRNWpsHCLZAxpPR0xJWB-2vaLsl54QxZaNxm4kAmwouMqZAMGSuTDEafFcLuyDu-V1sIE37ra4yPua_WoyBQmIXQmjJRQi0OaY_Rw/s320/prosperity0909_350_234_90_350_234_90.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artwork from The Gospel Coalition (2015)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Several years ago now I was travelling down a road in Nigeria on which, at almost every corner, there stood a church with a name that promised their members, and all who would join them, success, victory, wealth and happiness. One that has stuck in my mind was 'The Winners' Church'. It seemed as if I was in the very home of the prosperity gospel! Yet so many in the surrounding streets, and those going in and coming out from these churches, seemed anything but prosperous, successful or even happy. I asked my guide, 'What do they do when reality hits and they are not healed, or do not become wealthy, or are struck by tragedy or the ordinary disappointments of life? How do they cope with suffering and even persecution?' 'They go to the next church', she said. 'The Spirit may be at work in the next one.'</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Of course the prosperity gospel is not just a feature of aspirational Christianity in the majority world. It is alive and well and destroying lives in Western countries too. In fact there are very large churches which, in one way or another, are making similar promises right here in Australia. They attract the crowds and even Christians from other backgrounds want to be associated with them, or so it seems. It may well be they welcome such association because they desperately want to present themselves as mainstream and respectable. 'We are evangelical, just like you.'</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Though it is always more comfortable and more popular—and sounds at first hearing more Christian—to advocate cooperation and mutual recognition, perhaps there are still reasons why we should resist that siren call and make the case, as graciously but as firmly as we can, against this false teaching. Graciousness is vital because I am not infallible, nor am I without sin. There is no pristine position of theological or ecclesiastical purity which I can claim as my own. Certainly the Scriptures are without error and wholesome and life-giving, authoritative, clear and sufficient. Yet I do not always listen as I should and my own self interest too easily gets in the way of serving my brothers and sisters through teaching the truth. Yet firmness is vital too because false teaching is dangerous, in fact one of the most dangerous things there is. Consider the impact of the very first piece of false teaching: 'You shall not die' (Gen 3.4). What is more, those charged with the pastoral care of God's people are to 'drive out false teaching' for the sake of the flock.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It would be easy at this point to explore the biblical texts that speak about the reality of suffering in the Christian life, to point to the experience of first Jesus then his apostles during their earthly ministries, and to remind ourselves that the Bible makes no promises of an easy or comfortable life, let alone one in which success, victory, wealth and happiness are assured. When these come they are extraordinary and entirely unmerited blessings of God but they are not promised and they certainly are not earned by religious activity, whether it be giving to the church budget or spiritual achievements of one kind or another. Paul did, after all, speak of 'suffering with him [Christ] in order that we may also be glorified with him' (Rom 8.17). Jesus did tell his disciples and those who would follow them, 'In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world' (Jn 16.33). Some are raised to great power, influence, and, yes, even wealth. Others are called upon to share the fate of the martyrs who are safe under the altar of God (Rev 6.9–11). There is no promise that a particular individual or group of individuals will prosper in this life, notwithstanding advice about the way 'life under the sun' works (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes). Wealth and success are no reliable measure of faithfulness or blessing. Remember the case of Job: a righteous man who suffered greatly in his life (Christopher Ash's excellent <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Job-Christopher-Ash-R-Kent-Hughes/9781433513121?ref=grid-view">commentary</a> shows how the Book of Job critiques the 'system' which suggests the godly prosper and only the wicked suffer).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In this light, the prosperity gospel is both false and dangerous. It does not take seriously these and other texts which speak of suffering and opposition facing those who follow the crucified Messiah and it takes those texts which speak of abundance, blessing and the end of grief, sickness, suffering and death out of their biblical theological context. It does not keep Christ, his cross and resurrection and his gospel of salvation from sin (with its summons to faith and repentance) front and centre. That's why it's false. There is a reason why Paul spoke of preaching Christ <i>crucified. </i>Yet it is also dangerous because people trust those who teach these things and bankroll them and are devastated when the promises are not realised. This is a well-travelled route away from faith in Christ and that is both tragic and damnable. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are some very good and detailed critiques of the prosperity gospel that are available on the web, for instance <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/prosperity-gospel-born-in-the-usa">here</a> and <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/5-errors-of-the-prosperity-gospel">here</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, in this quincentenary of the Reformation, I would like to take a slightly different tack and remind myself and others of the theology of the cross, that exposition of the impact of the gospel on the way we view life (including what we expect of it) which came from Luther's pen in the Heidelberg Disputation of 1518. The key theses, (19–23, in <i>Luther's Works, </i>31:52–54) are well known:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
19. That person does not deserve to be called a theologian who looks upon the invisible things of God as though they were clearly perceptible in those things which have actually happened.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Luther explained that 'the invisible things of God are virtue, goodness, wisdom, justice, goodness, and so forth'.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
20. He deserves to be called a theologian, however, who comprehends the visible and manifest things of God seen through suffering and the cross.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Luther's explanation continued 'It is not sufficient for anyone, and it does him no good, to recognise God in his glory and majesty, unless he recognises him in the humility and shame of the cross'.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
21. A theologian of glory calls evil good and good evil. A theologian of the cross calls the thing what it actually is.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Luther wrote, 'He who does not know Christ does not know God hidden in suffering. Therefore he prefers works to suffering, glory to the cross, strength to weakness, wisdom to folly, and, in general, good to evil'.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
22. That wisdom which sees the invisible things of God in works as perceived by man is completely puffed up, blinded and hardened.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Luther went on, 'Because men do not know the cross and hate it, they necessarily love the opposite, namely, wisdom, glory, power, and so on. Therefore they become increasingly blinded and hardened by such love, for desire cannot be satisfied by the acquisition of those things which it desires ... The remedy for curing desire does not lie in satisfying it, but in extinguishing it'.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now what does all this mean and how does it relate to the prosperity gospel taught in Sydney and elsewhere? The theology of the cross turns our natural way of viewing things on its head. The things so treasured by our world—prestige, success, influence, power, respect, wealth, intelligence, and all the rest—are in fact distractions which keep us from seeing where God is really at work: in suffering, and humility and weakness. Pilate in his consular robes and Herod in his palace had all the trappings of power and empire in the Gospel accounts. Yet it was the bleeding, broken and dying man on the cross who trusted in his heavenly Father and extended forgiveness to a penitent thief as well as to his executioners, who had the reality. That is where God was really at work, even though it did not look like it that day. Like the penniless widow in contrast to the wealthy people (Mark 12.41–44), or the distraught tax collector in contrast to the proud Pharisee (Lk 18), God was deeply at work in the humiliated Son of man, struggling for breath, though you might not have recognised it at first.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But that is not all. The cross, if it is to shape our view of the world and of what matters most in life, draws our attention to sin, salvation, forgiveness and hope. The gospel is first and fundamentally about dealing with sin. The most serious danger facing human beings is not poverty, or failure, or illness, or even death. It is our own sin, evident even when we are 'at our best'. The profound impact of sin on every part of us and the reality of God's judgment mean that what we need most is salvation. We need to be forgiven. Jesus' blood was shed 'for the forgiveness of sins' (Matt 26.28). His mission, from beginning to end, was about saving his people from their sins (Matt 1.21). That forgiveness turns our eyes forward in hope to the restoration of all things, the new heavens and the new earth <i>where righteousness dwells</i> (2 Pet 3.13). In so doing it creates a certain restlessness with this world as we look forward to the Lord's return. The cross, by virtue of the seriousness of what was happening there and why, gives us a very different set of priorities to those of the world around us. Wealth or poverty, success or failure, health or sickness, victory or defeat—real and impactful as each of these undoubtedly is—cannot be the focus of our message. What is of first importance is that 'Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures' (1 Cor 15.3).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The prosperity gospel sees God's glory and God's blessing in all the wrong places and in so doing it draws attention away from what matters most and the reason why Jesus came, and lived and taught, and died and rose again, <i>and is ruling now. </i>When words like wrath, judgment, sin, forgiveness, and repentance have slipped out of our vocabulary, though they are so prominent in the New Testament, and when the concepts conveyed by those words are pushed into the background while the priorities of those around us are simply affirmed and superficially 'baptised', it is difficult not to conclude that we are faced with a different gospel. It is difficult not to conclude we have become a 'theologian of glory', to use Luther's expression.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is why we cannot make common cause with those churches who teach this pernicious doctrine: lives are shipwrecked now (and we must not close our eyes to the evidence of this, not just in Africa and Asia and Latin America, but here in Australia and the rest of the West as well) and what matters most is ultimately devalued. But just as importantly, we must be prepared to ask ourselves where <i>we </i>have been blind or distracted and where <i>we</i> have surrendered to the interests, priorities and values of the world rather than proclaiming Christ crucified and the forgiveness of sins and calling on all men and women to repent (Luke 24.46–47; Acts 17.30–31). In the end the bigger problem at the moment might just be <i>our</i> desire to be approved of (or respected — justified as a prelude to being heard) by those who teach or believe this false gospel.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-69097665677659472882017-02-05T15:56:00.000+11:002017-02-05T21:37:48.930+11:00Michael John Ovey (1958 - 2017)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRWsTVLW-5oKnqEIlJL35jEOjg8m5-W7W0uh4yvD3gpaVJXdMW1KaOxWBonSd3xzu2Q-oNlXIRiEun2pzJI7o8Nrd-bKZMB0opTSbpbtDLEU1H03iaew7cewwmHK61UQK6Fsz1Q/s1600/Unknown-7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRWsTVLW-5oKnqEIlJL35jEOjg8m5-W7W0uh4yvD3gpaVJXdMW1KaOxWBonSd3xzu2Q-oNlXIRiEun2pzJI7o8Nrd-bKZMB0opTSbpbtDLEU1H03iaew7cewwmHK61UQK6Fsz1Q/s1600/Unknown-7.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It has taken a little while to write this thanksgiving to God for the life of my dear friend Mike Ovey. I have indeed written tributes for other publications, news items, editorials, etc. But this is the one I knew I wanted to write and it has taken longer. This one is much more personal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The reason for the delay is deep grief and a profound sense of loss. Another friend used the word 'ambush' to describe how grief can burst upon you unexpectedly and without notice. You can never be sure what little detail, what brief memory, which conversation, will trigger an outburst of emotion. That has certainly been my experience over the past few weeks — so many wonderful memories, so many shared concerns and interests, so many plans for what we would do together. I have lost the closest of friends, an entirely trustworthy confidante and a partner in gospel ministry. In a little over a month's time I was to pick him up at Sydney airport, he would spend three months across the green from my home and the long joyful cups of coffee would begin.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The truth of it, though, is that Mike is far from lost and is now rejoicing in the presence of the Lord he served with such gentle, humble distinction all his life. As yet another friend put it, he is with Jesus, more himself than he ever was, knowing as he has been known, rejoicing in the salvation he had tasted in prospect and now enjoys in full. In that light, a post like this one is more than a little self-indulgent. Not entirely, of course. It is important to grieve alongside and to support those closest to Mike and who were cherished most by him — Heather, Charlie, Harry and Ana. Yet the only person it is hard to feel sorry for in all of this is Mike himself. As the apostle Paul wrote, 'My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better' (Phil. 1.23).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The outpouring of grief by so many at the death of Mike is testimony to how much he gave himself to the support and encouragement of others. I have been struck by how consistently the word 'kind' has been used of him. He was kind even to those with whom he disagreed, even to those who had opposed him and hurt him. He was particularly kind to children. I've seen him with his own children, passionately interested in all each of them was doing. I have seen him with other children — gentle, focussed, interested, just plain kind. I remember him with my children. Each one of them has lovely memories of 'Uncle Mike' - the way he laughed with them, the way he talked about the Lord with them, the way he offered to help them with the homework tasks they were facing during his last visit.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
How many student and faculty families at Oak Hill College could testify to the way Mike put other things aside to help them when they needed help? He was like that. Former students would return to the College to talk through with Mike difficulties they were having in ministry or in their personal life. He would listen, really listen. He walked through each situation with them. And when he offered advice, it was on the back of the most astute analysis of what the real issues were. He could cut through the fog and point a clear way ahead.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyJNEauunh1nuINQsu4Pm2TbxATwdXzr6VuugnGAOFAWVTT2Sxn7ZMg8gvQOXBk29Oeb7OvNWHhu57XWX_V-8Jy_njw1P-wM5crmLwKM_nnkBqSu_pKj798FkNpVPTMwEuSi4kg/s1600/images-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyJNEauunh1nuINQsu4Pm2TbxATwdXzr6VuugnGAOFAWVTT2Sxn7ZMg8gvQOXBk29Oeb7OvNWHhu57XWX_V-8Jy_njw1P-wM5crmLwKM_nnkBqSu_pKj798FkNpVPTMwEuSi4kg/s1600/images-4.jpeg" /></a>Mike's kindness was shown in the way he valued everyone. He didn't look down on anyone. He always treated people as if they were smarter than he was (which was hardly likely ever to be true) and as if their ideas and concerns really mattered. I don't think this was just a kind disposition inherited, particularly, from his mother (though from what I have heard there is something in that). It arose from his understanding of the gospel and the level playing field created by the reality of justification by faith. There is no ground for boasting, no preferential treatment, no merit, only a common need to be forgiven and renewed and redeemed. He was the smartest man in the room just about every time, but he never used that to feed his own ego or put down others. It was almost as if he didn't know it was true, or at least it didn't matter. Justification by faith again.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was a doctrine Mike kept returning to, especially over the last ten years. Understanding justification by faith and its implications, and helping others to understand these things — especially in light of so much confusion and misinformation associated with the New Perspective on Paul, Federal Vision and other distortions as well — was a particular preoccupation. We had planned that this year, at last, we would write something together on the subject and had planned a joint conference to ensure we got it written. Yet this was not part of the Lord's plan for our lives. Nevertheless, the very fact that this project meant so much to Mike, and that he had designed courses and given lectures on the topic over the past few years was reflective of both its prominence in the New Testament and the dire consequences of the ignorance of this doctrine so evident in the British churches (and not only British churches it should be said).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mike was genuinely intellectually curious. He wanted to know what others were thinking. He read widely and listened intently. He was interested in philosophy, in history, in literature, in politics, and, of course, in theology. He regularly introduced me to theologians I had barely known about - but he had been reading them and always had gems to share with the excitement of a young boy in toy store. I didn't know who Benedict Pictet was, but Mike spoke of him with delight and so I got to know him. Edward Leigh was another. I did know about Calvin's <i>Antidote to the Council of Trent </i>but that had fired him up a couple of years ago, and more recently the work of Martin Chemnitz. Again and again he returned to Athanasius and Hilary of Poitiers and along with many others I learnt much about these theological giants from Mike. His scholarship was impressive. If only he had had more time to write.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEoEv8EFsk5XsQuJoFZWka5aNzOsADNPJDOR9ctsGIfJyJdoO4kg1bHi3KPPMM3hT03olSOCHPa2bkVaVuwYKLn8HH5esSMswpyNw8xFVLKBbe2A_6SXrdD4hn8u-xQNZzzEBJw/s1600/Unknown-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEoEv8EFsk5XsQuJoFZWka5aNzOsADNPJDOR9ctsGIfJyJdoO4kg1bHi3KPPMM3hT03olSOCHPa2bkVaVuwYKLn8HH5esSMswpyNw8xFVLKBbe2A_6SXrdD4hn8u-xQNZzzEBJw/s1600/Unknown-4.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yet Mike's reading in theology was always disciplined by the one source he cherished above all others: the Bible (with a particular interest in John's Gospel!). Mike Ovey was a Bible man because he was Christ's man. He read the Bible. He encouraged others to read the Bible. He tested the ideas of theologians through the ages (from whatever tradition they may have come) against the teaching of the Bible. He gladly affirmed the creeds and the Reformation confessions, but principally because, and to the extent that, they faithfully reflected the teaching of the Bible. Mike was a systematic theologian and a historical theologian but first and foremost he was a biblical theologian. It was a kind providence that ensured one book he did get to write was written with his comrade-in-arms at Oak Hill, Dan Strange: <i>Confident: Why We Can Trust the Bible </i>(Christian Focus, 2015).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since Mike's death, a lot has been written and said about his vision for theological education. Mike gave himself passionately to this ministry, convinced that without the best possible theological education, with the Scriptures determining both its content and its method, evangelicalism could well descend again into the anti-intellectual paralysis which devastated churches in the early decades of the twentieth century. Many in Mike's generation (and the one before) were and are disillusioned with theological education. They were so badly served by what they experienced that they could see no value in it. They have survived, and in some cases thrived in ministry, in spite of it. Mike too had experienced this disaster first-hand. The theological college where he studied prior to ordination undermined faith, ridiculed evangelical convictions, and presented the most insipid (and quite frankly pagan) alternative as if it were an enlightened way forward. Mike's contemporaries shut down and endured it and just got on with student ministry instead. Mike couldn't do that. He railed against it, took on the liberal theological establishment at Cambridge, and dreamed of what it might have been. Surely one's theological education should be a period when men and women were rigorously prepared for a lifetime of faithful ministry, equipped to face the challenges, built up in a confident biblical faith and stirred up to go out and reach the world for Christ. Why wasn't this the case? He was told by his tutor that his evangelical convictions would count against him when the examination results were published. But Mike was resolute in maintaining them throughout. In later years he could never understand why churches would send their best men and women to be taught by unbelievers who would pursue a thinly veiled agenda of turning them away from the evangelical faith (even if there was plenty of ministry to do in the university while this was happening). It was like sending the choicest lambs straight into the mouths of wolves.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVwg3VhMs18PgGyluQ2T8mwSckE4n0-Vjrb8JybvddDeiAPkYSGc1bGQuRT6kqLB544lBJtMgFGYfu9aUvgf-F76hyp59kk7wKJhAp5myFcln-ommQk38x7U67oR6G7-gQbx0Fg/s1600/Unknown-9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVwg3VhMs18PgGyluQ2T8mwSckE4n0-Vjrb8JybvddDeiAPkYSGc1bGQuRT6kqLB544lBJtMgFGYfu9aUvgf-F76hyp59kk7wKJhAp5myFcln-ommQk38x7U67oR6G7-gQbx0Fg/s1600/Unknown-9.jpeg" /></a>Others clearly saw this passion in Mike and his extraordinary potential. After a curacy at All Saints, Crowborough, Mike was invited to lecture Christian doctrine at Moore College. (I had just left for doctoral studies in the UK and first met Mike at a wedding in Cambridge a few months prior to him leaving for Australia in early 1995.) The three years in Sydney gave Mike an entirely new and exhilarating experience. Here was a theological college where faith was nourished, the Bible was taken seriously, the cross was central, the Christian fellowship was real and lively and richly encouraging. Mike's vision of what theological education could be in the UK began to take on new hues. He learnt how to teach doctrine alongside Peter Jensen. He saw how the curriculum had been developed, how pastoral care was conducted, how theology and practice were integrated. (I will remain forever grateful to God that I finished in the UK when I did and overlapped for a year with Mike at Moore in 1997/8.) Then, at the end of the three years Mike was invited to return to the UK by the new principal of Oak Hill College, David Peterson, in order to join the faculty there. This began a 19 year association with the college which only ended with Mike's sudden, unexpected death on 7 January 2017. He taught doctrine at Oak Hill and in 2007 was appointed Principal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mike set out, not to duplicate Moore in the UK, but to build on the work of his predecessor in realising a theological education that energised, enthused and properly prepared men and women for ministry in the UK. Built on solid biblical teaching, an enthusiastic and joyful teaching of Christian doctrine, serious attention to the practicalities of ministry, apologetics, ethics, mission and much more, Oak Hill under Mike was established without doubt as the leading theological college in Britain. Quite frankly it was the only place one could confidently recommend a British person to train if they wanted to be well grounded in Scripture, evangelical reformed doctrine, and astute ministry practice. The graduates of Oak Hill over the last ten years have commended the work that Mike and others have done there. While standards in other institutions have continued to fall, and a clear grasp of the gospel of grace with its summons to faith and repentance seems to have been lost in one place after another, Oak Hill has remained clear and committed to preparing men and women to be 'the best possible gift' to the churches (Mike made much use of this image from Ephesians 4).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBesYMN5-nwxszLnr1sACzVCD0Q7C2FBDU-ACgI0togVRUzM2ohIa8lVfBpYdT1PDrRtzPVAwVPKU7clZVMsQcIrwS_UmCsfWvlke2QndFSOdLymR7ZkhzA6oJYrpROyEpAN_a1Q/s1600/images-7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBesYMN5-nwxszLnr1sACzVCD0Q7C2FBDU-ACgI0togVRUzM2ohIa8lVfBpYdT1PDrRtzPVAwVPKU7clZVMsQcIrwS_UmCsfWvlke2QndFSOdLymR7ZkhzA6oJYrpROyEpAN_a1Q/s1600/images-7.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mike succeeded, building on the work of others but certainly taking it further and giving it a clear British character, in realising the robust evangelical theological education that he had dreamed about years before. He certainly never thought he or Oak Hill had arrived. He was always thinking of how it could be better. Never a brilliant administrator (or correspondent, it should be said), he built a team of people who worked together with him to move the college forward in uncertain times. One friend who knew him well spoke of him warmly as 'a team player' rather than a prima donna. New initiatives were explored, new partnerships forged, but the steady flow of graduates confident in the Scriptures, passionate about re-evangelising Britain and bringing a new reformation to the Church of England remained the core of the work. In more recent years there has been an influx of students from the evangelical free churches, welcomed and encouraged by Mike and the faculty. Yet, despite the difficulties with many diocesan directors of ordinands, and the continuing skepticism about theological education by some in evangelical congregations within the Church of England, a steady number of ordination candidates have been determined to study at Oak Hill, knowing that this was the place where they would gain the best theological education available in Britain. As Mike told one faculty member 'We're bringing about reformation in the UK. And we're nearly there.'</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPf8JryTFViTzaor4u03TKrV3ktmLf7YaARdh-vvmnn8_KzlrzDG6fFjYw5w2RKH24CXGpzkKag2HRZOI63tXczq2izALqGOEzH7Ad6M9KhCFiUmgF6zPybrZrHrskbEwyQ4TYw/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPf8JryTFViTzaor4u03TKrV3ktmLf7YaARdh-vvmnn8_KzlrzDG6fFjYw5w2RKH24CXGpzkKag2HRZOI63tXczq2izALqGOEzH7Ad6M9KhCFiUmgF6zPybrZrHrskbEwyQ4TYw/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a>Mike was convinced that evangelicals had to be active in their denominations and in the culture more generally, bringing their theological convictions to bear on both teaching and practice and seeking the good of all in obedience to the love command of Jesus. He was himself active in public debates on the authority of Scripture, the meaning of the cross of Christ (from which came the book he jointly authored, <i>Pierced for our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution, </i>IVP, 2007)<i>,</i> men and women in ministry, human sexuality and much more. He served on a number of committees for the Church of England, always with something profoundly theological to contribute. He helped to advise the British government (making good use of his background as a lawyer and parliamentary draftsman). He was also, from its very beginnings, a member of the GAFCON Theological Resource Group. (Our partnership in its first meeting, in Lagos in January 2008, continues to bring a smile to my face - so many funny memories.) He spoke at both GAFCON I (Jerusalem, 2008) and GAFCON II (Nairobi, 2013). In Nairobi he delivered one of his most influential contributions to the GAFCON/FCA movement, his talk <i><a href="https://www.gafcon.org/sites/gafcon.org/files/resources/files/The_Grace_of_God_or_the_world_of_the_West.pdf">The Grace of God or the World of the West</a>. </i>In that talk, Mike spoke of the 'cheap grace' embraced by the Western churches, a grace we bestow upon ourselves and where repentance is redundant, and so which feeds narcissism and a sense of entitlement. He saw this as a capitulation to worldliness by attempting to join Jesus with the world. Mike's paper remains a devastating critique and warning to the churches of the global south not to go down that path, despite pressure from the West to do so under the misleading label of 'modernization'.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In recent years Mike had been a contributor to the journal <i>Themelios. </i>His regular column was entitled 'Off the record' and it gave Mike an opportunity to bring together his theological acuity, his wide and deep reading in a range of disciplines, and his astute cultural analysis, as exemplified by the GAFCON address. Each one of his contributions is worth reading (they are all available online).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'The Goldilocks Zone', <i>Themelios </i>37.1 (2012): 4–6.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'The Right to Ridicule', <i>Themelios </i>37.2 (2012): 182–84.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'Sorrow at Another's Good?', <i>Themelios </i>37.3 (2012): 442–44.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'Colonial Atheism: A Very British Vice', <i>Themelios </i>38.1 (2013): 4–5.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'From Moral Majority to Evil Disbelievers: Coming Clean about Christian Atheism', <i>Themelios </i>38.2 (2013): 202–204.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'Liberty, What Crimes are Committed in Thy Name', <i>Themelios </i>38.3 (2013): 357–59.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'The Covert Thrill of Violence? Reading the Bible in Disbelief', <i>Themelios </i>39.1 (2014): 5–7.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'Projection Atheism: Why Reductionist Accounts of Humanity Can Lead to Reductionist Accounts of God', <i>Themelios </i>39.2 (2014): 220–22.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'Is it a Mistake to Stay at the Crossroads?', <i>Themelios </i>39.3 (2014): 411–14.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'Courtier Politicians and Courtier Preachers', <i>Themelios </i>40.1 (2015): 10–12.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'Can <i>Antigone </i>Work in a Secularist Society?', <i>Themelios </i>40.2 (2015): 198–200.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'Is the Wrath of God Extremist?', <i>Themelios </i>40.3 (2015): 389–391.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'The Art of Imperious Ignorance', <i>Themelios </i>41.1 (2016): 5–7.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'The Echo Chamber of Idolatry', <i>Themelios </i>41.2 (2016): 214–16.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'Choose Your Fears Carefully', <i>Themelios </i>41.3 (2016): 410–12.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last year Mike was drawn into a debate in the blogosphere on the eternal relation of the Father and the Son in the Trinity. Early in the year his book on the subject had been published: <i>Your Will be Done: Exploring Eternal Subordination, Divine Monarchy and Divine Humility </i>(Latimer Trust, 2016)<i>. </i>A storm had arisen in the US over the way some had appealed to the Trinity to endorse an extreme 'biblical hierarchy' in the relations between men and women. There was a suggestion that the great doctrine of the Son's 'eternal generation' was being jettisoned in favour of 'eternal subordination'. One foolish suggestion made was that anyone who held any form of eternal subordination, including functional or voluntary relational subordination, should resign their teaching post. Mike's careful study of the trinitarian debates (with particular attention to Athanasius and Hilary, of course), and his profound exegetical engagement withe teaching of John's Gospel, was something far more edifying and far more convincing than much that was written in the drawn-out debate on the issue on blogs around the world. He affirmed the eternal generation of the Son and insisted that the 'sonship' of the Son be taken with the utmost seriousness. What does it mean for the Son to be Son and not just another Father? Paternity and filiation are asymmetrical. His deep familiarity with the trinitarian and Christological debates in the early church and his careful submission to the words of Scripture out of reverence for Christ make his contribution one that will undoubtedly bring lasting benefit to God's people.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was refreshed every time I spoke with Mike, consistently through our more than 20 year friendship. I could relax with him, laugh with him, talk serious theology with him, rejoice in our families with him. I could pray with him and and seek advice from him and just delight in being with him. I couldn't always get him on the phone (I often had more contact with his PA, or so it seemed), but when I did it was always worth it. All of that I will greatly miss in the years until we meet again around the throne of grace. My life was immeasurably enriched by God's wonderful gift in bringing us together as friends. But while I grieve his absence and the plans which will now go unrealised, I have a very great deal for which to thank God in Mike. And so do all who long to see the gospel of Jesus Christ flourish again in Britain and around the world.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxt3psL0o3KpuppjkDSXYU7dhDYcnKnWj-6X5XK4vs-ipw8X-MnAYK3wPNMu0SudfdaEJsU4ECsoAxR5xvHJ5JfkdKgvukoF6ViZoflCx43cGet9Sb5b-G6I6fwPK8I_WWA8SRw/s1600/Unknown-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxt3psL0o3KpuppjkDSXYU7dhDYcnKnWj-6X5XK4vs-ipw8X-MnAYK3wPNMu0SudfdaEJsU4ECsoAxR5xvHJ5JfkdKgvukoF6ViZoflCx43cGet9Sb5b-G6I6fwPK8I_WWA8SRw/s1600/Unknown-6.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
God gave us a great gift in Mike Ovey. Everything that Mike was, and everything he did, was a work of God. He would be the first to decry any suggestion of achievement or merit on his part. So this is a moment to thank God for his great kindness in giving Mike to us for these 58 years. What an extraordinary gift he gave us in this little man with all his peculiarities but his single-minded determination to live for Christ and see him honoured in all the world. Like Paul, he fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith (2 Tim 4.7). Thank you, Lord, for Mike, for all you did through him and for all you made him to be as a disciple of the Lord Jesus and an encouragement to so many of us.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A couple of weeks ago now I went to one of Mike's haunts, the Moonlight Cafe in Cockfosters, to have breakfast. The proprietor remembered him: 'He sat over there, just a couple of weeks ago, drinking coffee and eating a chicken kebab'. When I look back over this post, what God did through this servant of his seems incredible. Yes, he was mightily used by God. Yet in the end it will be the ordinary human warmth, his laughter, his poor jokes, and his kindness — above all his kindness — that I will miss.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-34956806705135517682017-01-18T19:47:00.001+11:002017-01-19T18:07:20.828+11:00The Archbishops' Statement on the Reformation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuhGRLXc_Y1xGunFA-95brJaXphd_mm63oWGDAi0A7mg3SbCchPeRPTl3SKlUrL9f_6-TPB3u_L5EDoKDPpiNkep6mnFtMJkdXCo0Ld1BiPYXz5vziy9AZ8SFnbB_6HSLfNWdjg/s1600/img.php.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuhGRLXc_Y1xGunFA-95brJaXphd_mm63oWGDAi0A7mg3SbCchPeRPTl3SKlUrL9f_6-TPB3u_L5EDoKDPpiNkep6mnFtMJkdXCo0Ld1BiPYXz5vziy9AZ8SFnbB_6HSLfNWdjg/s1600/img.php.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have released a <a href="http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/5826/reformation-anniversary-statement-from-the-archbishops-of-canterbury-and-york">joint statement on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.</a> The statement recognises that 'many Christians will want to give thanks for the great blessings they have received to which the Reformation directly contributed'. Furthermore it includes among those blessings, 'clear proclamation of the gospel of grace, the availability of the Bible to all in their own language and the recognition of the calling of lay people to serve God in the world and in the church'. The Archbishops make clear that the Church of England will be participating in the celebrations of this anniversary, 'including sharing in events with Protestant church partners from Continental Europe'.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So despite how some of the more popular press might try to spin it, this statement is not a repudiation of the Reformation nor of its doctrine. Indeed, it includes the sentences: 'Remembering the Reformation should bring us back to what the Reformers wanted to put at the centre of every person's life, which is a simple trust in Jesus Christ. This year is a time to renew our faith in Christ and in Him alone.'</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nevertheless the statement does want us to face what we might call the dark side of the Reformation, where, most horribly, 'many suffered persecution and even death at the hands of others claiming to know the same Lord'. The Reformation martyrs in England come to mind: Bilney, Tyndale, Latimer, Ridley, Cranmer and many others. The Anabaptists who were persecuted and in many cases executed in Europe were another case. The Roman Catholics who were hunted down and killed in Protestant lands also come to mind. The turn to coercion and violence as a means of producing religious conformity (which continues to this day in some parts of the Anglican Communion) was a tragedy of major proportions. Those who rejoice in the recovery of gospel truth and a new freedom to live in the world as sinners saved by grace can also mourn this particular legacy of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. As the Archbishops would be the first to recognise, among their predecessors and colleagues are both victims and perpetrators of this distress.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The statement is a little less surefooted when it speaks of 'the unity of the church' and the need to 'repent of our part in perpetuating divisions'. True this was bound to be a theme of the statement given a Week of Prayer for Church Unity. Furthermore, it is thoroughly appropriate that the Archbishops should call on members of the Church of England to reach out to other churches and strengthen relationships with them. However, the statement does not anywhere acknowledge that the separation that happened in the sixteenth century was ultimately a necessary one. When the gospel is abandoned or compromised, and there is no repentance, division and separation are the ultimate sanction. This was, of course, the case even in the New Testament. Jesus certainly prayed for the unity of those who followed him - a unity of faith in the Spirit which many of us realise can exist even across insitutional boundaries (Jn 17.21). The apostle Paul could call on his readers to 'maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace' (Eph 4.3). However, in cases of departure from biblical truth or unrepentant immorality of one kind or another, Paul could counsel separation and even reluctantly recognise the importance of division (cf. 1 Cor 1.10 and 1 Cor 5.1–2; 1 Cor 11.19; Gal 2). On the last day, Jesus Christ himself will make the ultimate separation, even saying to some who cry 'Lord, Lord', 'I never knew you' (Mtt 7.23)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We should undoubtedly eschew hatred, sectarianism and violence. These have no place amongst those who know that none of us have a claim on the grace of God and we have been reconciled by the death of his Son 'while we were enemies' (Rom 5.10). Yet where the gospel is denied either in teaching or in behaviour, the resultant division, though lamentable, is a sign of faithfulness on the part of those who will not abandon the word of God for the approval of (or friendship with) people. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Which must lead us to reflect on whether the departures from biblical truth that occasioned the split at the time of the Reformation have been addressed by the Roman Church. A quick and effective way of assessing this is to measure contemporary Catholic teaching against the <i>solae </i>of the Reformation. Does the Roman Church teach <i>sola scriptura</i>, the final authority of Scripture above all other authorities, including the authority of councils, popes, reason and tradition? Does the Roman Church teach <i>sola gratia</i>, the unearned favour of God that is not dependent upon any ministration of the church? Does the Roman Church teach <i>sola fide</i>, justification by faith <i>alone, </i>that the basis of our right standing before God is the righteousness of Christ in both his perfect life and atoning death and we are joined to that by faith through the work of the Spirit? Does the Roman Church teach <i>solus Christus, </i>that Christ alone is our redeemer, intercessor, and Saviour, and is not joined in this unique ministry by any other, whether it be his faithful mother or the saints of human history? Does the Roman Church teach <i>soli Deo gloria, </i>that glory belongs to God alone and that all Christian men and women are merely unworthy servants who have only done what was our duty (Lk 17.10)? Against this measure the Reformation division was not only necessary then but remains necessary today. The Roman doctrine which occasioned the Reformation and was reaffirmed at the Council of Trent remains unchanged today, attempts at ecumencial joint statements notwithstanding. There can be no genuine unity where the truth is augmented, compromised or undermined. Unity and truth are inextricably bound together.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The joint statement of the Archbishops ends with a call to all Christians 'to seek to be renewed and united in the truth of the gospel of Christ through our participation in the Reformation Anniversary, to repent of divisions, and, held together in Him, to be a blessing to the world in obedience to Jesus Christ'. This is surely something to which we can all say a hearty 'Amen'. Yet in doing so, let us not forget that while division is always something lamentable, and to be avoided where at all possible, it is sometimes sadly necessary when the very gospel of Christ, which binds us together in faith and love and hope, is at stake.</div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-19900597389955989072016-06-09T18:25:00.000+10:002016-06-09T18:25:28.306+10:00ERS: Is there order in the Trinity?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyq28EaVMFcEw3mowQ8TYM48J7AkRO-1i-Qx_pe3ii1Uecy04qfHBI8P4vGtUCuuQh5ZY53fklqxNpp5kGByya-76RPvTw-c_idbzU3pF1AzkLQmLXRAfMLKp3bHFbCjuF5LbL_Q/s1600/Trinity+Shield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyq28EaVMFcEw3mowQ8TYM48J7AkRO-1i-Qx_pe3ii1Uecy04qfHBI8P4vGtUCuuQh5ZY53fklqxNpp5kGByya-76RPvTw-c_idbzU3pF1AzkLQmLXRAfMLKp3bHFbCjuF5LbL_Q/s1600/Trinity+Shield.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>This is the first in a two part series responding to recent theological challenges to the doctrine of eternal functional (or relational) subordination (EFS or ERS). This doctrine has been under sustained attack, especially in the light of its use to support the argument for an appropriate order of equals that might apply in relations between men and women in the home and in the church. It has also been under attack, it must be admitted, because of overstatement and a lack of precision in some of its advocates. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>In this post I want to explore the strictly theological question of whether this doctrine inevitably involves a drift into the subordinationist heresy associated with Arius. This is the most common theological objection to the doctrine. In the next post I want to explore a more recent charge: that the doctrine compromises the revelation of God as Trinity in another way, namely through undermining the genuine incarnation of the Son.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-ascii-font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To suggest that within the divine Trinity the
Son is in any sense less than the Father is to fall into heresy.
Subordinationism, the teaching most often associated with the early
fourth-century Egyptian priest Arius, was very quickly recognised as biblically
deficient, theologically confused and pastorally disastrous. It did manufacture
a false view of God and so can rightly be described as idolatrous. Arius’ ‘son’
was subordinate <i>in being </i>to the
Father. But, as Athanasius wrote in response, the Son is every bit as much God
as the Father is: ‘And so, since they are one, and the Godhead itself one, the
same things are said of the Son, which are said of the Father, except His being
said to be Father’ (<i>Orationes </i>III.4).
As the Athanasian Creed (sadly not written by Athanasius) puts it, ‘In this
Trinity none is afore, nor after another; none is greater or lesser than
another’. This is a confession disciplined by God’s self-revelation in
Scripture: ‘I and the Father are one’ (Jn 10.30); he ‘did not count equality
with God something to be grasped’ — note the antecedent to ‘he’ in this text is
‘Christ Jesus’ (Phil. 2.5–6). It is the confession of the Nicene Creed: 'very God of very God ... being of one substance with the Father'. It is a confession no less urgent and vital to
Christian faith in the twenty-first century as it was in the fourth century.</span><!--EndFragment-->
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-ascii-font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;">However we speak about the triune God, we must
insist that we are speaking about one God, undivided in being, undivided in will and undivided in his
action in the world. There is neither division nor hierarchy in the being of
the one triune God.</span><!--EndFragment--> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-ascii-font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We must also affirm, while holding them in the
closest possible relation, a distinction between the eternal being of God and
his self-revelation in the economy of creation and salvation. The relation of
God in himself and God as he is towards us is, however, very much more than just
extremely close. When we deal with God in Christ, we really are dealing </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">with God. </i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Care must be taken not to
drive a wedge between the eternal or immanent Trinity and the revealed or
economic Trinity. Otherwise confidence in God’s self-revelation will be
undermined — how could we be sure this is how God really is? To use the words of one recent contribution to the discussion, how could we be sure that these were more than just 'roles adopted by the persons to accomplish our redemption'? (Liam Goligher, <a href="http://www.alliancenet.org/mos/housewife-theologian/is-it-okay-to-teach-a-complementarianism-based-on-eternal-subordination#.V1kWhlcyC-I">here</a>) Yet at the same
time we must avoid a simple transfer of all we see of God in Christ to the
eternal Trinity. An obvious example would be the hunger or tiredness of Jesus.
The triune God is never hungry and never tired, but God as he has truly
revealed himself in the </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">incarnate </i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Son
does grow hungry and tired, he bleeds and dies. The limits of our understanding
are not far from us here, since we cannot isolate Jesus’ humanity from his
divine nature in order to secure this distinction between the eternal and the
economic. He is the one person, who is both fully God and fully man.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-ascii-font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">However we speak about the triune God, we must
not collapse the economic Trinity into the ontological Trinity just as we must
not separate them. God is as he reveals himself to be.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-ascii-font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The incarnation of the Son provides us with
direct access to God. He is ‘God with us’. He truly makes him known (Jn 1.18).
His words are the words of God. His activity is the activity of God. How you
respond to Jesus is how you respond to God. In truth, we have no other access
to the Father (Jn 14.6; Matt 11.27). We cannot approach God around, behind or apart from Jesus.
Yet Jesus is God the Son having taken to himself a genuine, full human nature.
So while we cannot divide the person into the natures — it is the person of
Jesus Christ who bleeds and dies not just a part of him — we must be alert to
the particularity of the incarnation and avoid too quickly concluding that an
action or a pattern of action is </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">necessarily
</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">a reflection of the eternal triune life of God. The Son is always the Son,
the one sent rather than the one doing the sending, the one who delights in the
love and will of the Father — which love and will he shares because of the
oneness of the divine being — but he is not always the </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">incarnate </i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Son. That cannot be said without undermining the reality
of God’s good work in creating time and space, and more particularly, the
Spirit’s work in overshadowing the virgin and perfecting in her womb the
personal union of humanity and divinity in Christ.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">However we speak about the triune God, we must not compromise the historical particularity of the incarnation or the indissoluble union of divine and human natures in Christ.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-ascii-font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:"Book Antiqua";
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">All of this has implications for contemporary
discussion of ‘eternal relational subordination’. Fundamentally it warns of the
care that must be taken in any appeal to the eternal life of God as an
inference from God’s involvement in the economy. Of course, such an appeal can and must be
made. After all, in the prayer in which Jesus speaks about the glory he shared with the Father 'before the world existed' and of how the Father loved him 'before the foundation of the world', he also says 'As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world' and 'that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you' (Jn 17). The humility Paul enjoins upon the Philippians is modelled on the humility of Christ Jesus whose decision not to count equality with God something to be grasped was quite obviously an eternal decision that resulted in time in the assumption of the form of a servant (Phil. 2). But any such appeal needs explicit exegetical warrant and a little more
theological precision than is usually the case in contemporary debates. We can readily admit that
illegitimate appeals from human relations to the eternal triune relations have
been made by both sides of the debate over men and women in society, in the
home, and in the churches. Egalitarians have protested that such appeals by
some complementarians sound like the subordinationist heresy. Some complementarians
suspect that the egalitarian appeal to intratrinitarian life comes remarkably
close to that another ancient heresy, Sabellianism (where Father, Son and Spirit
are completely interchangeable because they are merely the occasional masks of
the one divine substance).</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But there is another factor which needs to be taken into account. While superiority and inferiority, hierarchy in the sense of increasing value or importance or authority, is ruled out by the clear biblical witness to unity, indivisibility and equality within the Godhead, is there not still a sense in which there is an asymmetrical order of relation that does not negate any of these truths? A related question would be how consistent are the divine 'processions' with the divine 'missions'? Is the eternal begetting of the Son an appropriate grounding in the being of God for the sending of the Son into the world to save sinners (by being born of Mary no less)? Is the eternal procession of the Spirit from the Father and the Son an appropriate grounding in the being of God for the donation of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost? Could the Father or the Spirit just as well have been incarnate as the Son? Could the Son or the Father just as well have been sent into the world to indwell believers as the Spirit? Is there something about their eternal intratrinitarian relations which makes it thoroughly appropriate that God in each person should relate to the world in this way? [As an aside, I've always been rather partial to this line from John of Damascus: 'We have learned that there is a difference between begetting and procession, but what the manner of this difference is we have not learned at all.' <i>De Fide Orthodoxa </i>I.8]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The biblical revelation makes clear that the filial relation of the Father and the Son was not just a temporary phenomenon. John's Gospel, in particular, speaks of the pattern of relation between the Father and the Son. In John 5 we read:</span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. (vv. 19–20)</span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The very name 'Son' carries with it a correlation to 'Father', since we are bound to ask 'son of whom?' The divine will flows from the Father to the Son rather than in the other direction, precisely because he is the Father. Paternity, filiation and Sonship are eternal realities which need to be taken seriously and which impact how Jesus operated in his earthly ministry. Once again it was Athanasius and those who aligned themselves with the Nicene Creed who argued that while God was not always creator, he was always Father: 'It would be more godly and true to signify God from the Son and call him Father, than to name God from his works alone and call him Unoriginate' (<i>Orations, </i>I.14). The Word did not just become a Son in order to redeem us. He took on our humanity in order to redeem us. He was always the Son. And the relation of the Father and the Son was always the relation of Father to Son.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is worth looking at the other end of time and eternity as well. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul writes of how at the end Christ 'delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and authority and power' (v. 24). Is this to be taken as simply the final act within the economy? After all, at this point Paul uses the term 'Christ' or 'Messiah' rather than 'Son'. But just a few verses later we read this.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (v. 28)</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul is most certainly not suggesting an inequality between the Father and the Son. He is not suggesting that the Lordship of the Son is dispensable or that his Sonship is a temporary phenomenon. But the change of terminology from 'Christ' to 'Son' is not simply stylistic either. There is something about the final act of the eschaton, all put under the feet of Christ and then brought to the Father by the Son, that is indicative of their eternal relationship as Father and Son. The other-person-centredness of the triune persons has a particular shape or direction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the great dangers in this debate is that of name-calling. Other agendas (especially positions on the interchangeability or otherwise of the roles of men and women in family and congregational life) keep intruding and even when this is not explicit they are not far in the background. This name-calling might take the form of describing opposing views as Arian or Sabellian or even attempting to apply the ancient distinction between the Nicene Christians (who espoused 'of the same substance' to describe the relation of the Father and the Son) and Homoian Christians (who espoused 'like' as a more reasonable alternative). In the debates over the last ten years people have been too quick to relegate those with whom they disagree to the category of 'heretic' or 'would-be heretic' or 'dangerously close to being a heretic'. The atmosphere is too charged and very little of that charge has actually come from a focussed interest in trinitarian theology!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another danger lies in the term 'subordination' itself. While it would not be difficult to show that the term has been used by orthodox Christians from the earliest period and including stalwarts of modern trinitarian theology like Karl Barth, it is too easy to confuse 'subordination' and 'subordinationism'. It is too easy not to ask the question 'What kind of subordination do you mean?' before rushing to the conclusion that the person using the term is actually espousing 'subordinationism'. Though it is a mouthful, perhaps 'asymmetrical relational order' might be a better expression. In other words, there is an order in the relationship between the Father and the Son (we do not speak of two 'brothers', the Father and the Son are not interchangeable, etc). Perhaps not. But it does seem important to affirm as strongly as possible <i>both</i> the absolute equality of being between the Father and the Son (and the Spirit!) and an order between them that confirms and in a sense explicates that equality. The Father eternally begets the Son, not the other way around. The Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son (yes, I am theologically committed to the Filioque clause in the Creed; and yes, I know that the Creed does not use the word 'eternally' at that point).</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Any attempt to argue from the intratrinitarian relationships to a position on the roles and relational dynamics of men and women in the home and in the church needs particular care. Undoubtedly, in my view, the Trinity provides a background model of how equality and differentiation can exist together. I am even prepared to argue that the Trinity provides some ground for believing that the free embrace of headship and submission does not have to be oppressive or abusive nor need it involve a hierarchy of value (and yes, more work would need to be done than I have done here to identify and define 'headship' as the complement of 'submission'). Yet there are very significant differences which need to be taken into account as well. A man and a woman are two different people, with different personalities, different centres of consciousness, and different wills. Yet the triune God is one God, the persons are 'of one substance' with each other, and there is one divine will. The best that can be done here is to speak of an analogy, but I would resist the suggestion that trinitarian theology alone <i>necessitates</i> one position or the other on the relationships and roles of men and women. For that we need to look very carefully at the biblical texts which specifically treat those relationships and roles and hear what God has to say to us there.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">My purpose in this post has simply been to begin to explain why I for one would demur from any judgment that eternal relational subordination necessarily involves 'reinventing the doctrine of God', departing from orthodox doctrine of the Trinity, heresy or even idolatry. My own conviction is that it indicates an important strand of the biblical witness to God, recognised down through the ages by orthodox Christians who all would recoil from any hint of 'subordinationism'.</span></div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-44286494518588623572016-05-26T20:23:00.000+10:002019-03-20T21:55:40.376+11:00Professor John Bainbridge Webster FRSE (1955–2016)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC3fMA2tJKunNYWcgQk1rFSLRc6xtPepg6sPj_wmJejzF4vBVusfrEUHLFRNJ2aa4ZSjuB_CRTPtrxBormAtBR-4sa-CGqCMSebARSKaS-pyKzbszCADFKcmouy3rzaFwBYhONQ/s1600/Webster_J_255w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC3fMA2tJKunNYWcgQk1rFSLRc6xtPepg6sPj_wmJejzF4vBVusfrEUHLFRNJ2aa4ZSjuB_CRTPtrxBormAtBR-4sa-CGqCMSebARSKaS-pyKzbszCADFKcmouy3rzaFwBYhONQ/s1600/Webster_J_255w.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I first met John Webster in 1996 when he began as Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity in the University of Oxford. He was, as a friend of mine and I observed at the time, 'quite frankly the most impressive theological voice in Oxford today'. We went together to every one of his lectures that was advertised. His very first lecture series on Christology was full of insights that have served me well ever since. It was from John that I first heard the common sense observation 'we can never talk about God behind his back: our thinking and speaking of God is always done in his presence'. Theology suddenly becomes an intensely serious matter when that simple truth is remembered. It must never be a guise for intellectual self-assertion or ecclesiastical control. In that same series of lectures he helped me to see the importance of 'dogmatic location' and gave me my preference for 'attentive reading' over 'interpretation'. He was generous in his dealings with others, seriously theological in his approach to theology, attentive to Scripture, elegant in his writing style, and immensely, immensely stimulating. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Webster's inaugural lecture as Lady Margaret Professor is justly famous. Entitled 'Theological Theology', he sought to rescue theology from its enslavement to the pursuit of academic credibility by adopting critical methodologies and return it to its proper vocation of attending to the triune God and all else in relation to God. He knew it was all too easy for human creatures to be distracted by everything else and to forget that God has addressed us and our business is to listen and to wonder at God's perfection and his grace. Those of us engaged in the discipline of Christian doctrine or systematic theology have needed his constant encouragement to start with the triune God in his perfection and grace and and consider all else from this point. In the end our focus is not a dogmatic formulation but a person who calls us into his presence and invites us to share his life.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
The distinctiveness of Christian theology lies elsewhere, however: not simply in its persistence in raising questions of ultimacy, but rather in its invocation of God as agent in the intellectual practice of theology. In order to give account of its own operations, that is, Christian theology will talk of God and God's actions. Talk of God not only describes the matter into which theology enquires but also, crucially, informs its portrayal of its own processes of enquiry. In effect, theology is a contrary — eschatological — mode of intellectual life, taking its rise in God's disruption of the world, and pressing the academy to consider a quite discordant anthropology of enquiry. ('Theological Theology', in <i>Confessing God, </i>p. 25)</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have appreciated the way John has taken Holy Scripture seriously and located it securely in the economy of grace. I have appreciated his clarity of thought in the face of quasi-mystical apophaticism: 'apophasis does not secure freedom from idolatry, and, indeed, may be itself a form of idolatrous resistance to the human vocation to positive speech and action' ('The Ethics of Reconciliation' [2003]). I have appreciated his resolute focus on God in his triune perfection. I have appreciated the way he could speak with warmth of both Barth and Owen and his capacity to introduce me to yet another somewhat minor voice in the Reformed tradition who has just the right thing to say on the subject at hand. I have always tried to read whatever I could that has been written by John. I've not always agreed with him, but I have certainly had to work hard to justify why I don't.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Long ago now I read a semi-autobiographical piece by John entitled 'Discovering dogmatics' (in D. C. Marks [ed.], <i>Shaping a Theological Mind: Theological Context and Methodology</i>). What lingers in my memory is how, in some contrast to a number of other contributions to that volume, John was so completely self-effacing and yet gripped by the significance of the task (and indeed the office) to which he knew himself to be called.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some of what he wrote back then (the book was published in 2002) is just as helpful today:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
But as I read a great deal of contemporary systematic theology, I am struck by a sense that the centre of gravity is in the wrong place — usually it is heavily ecclesial, strongly invested in the Gospel as social and moral reality, overly invested in the language of habit, practice and virtue, underdetermined by a theology of divine aseity. It is not yet Ritschl; but without a seriously operative eschatology, it has little protection against slipping into social and cultural immanentism ... I tend to see a soft revisionism chastened by bits of Barth, or over-clever Anglo-Catholicism with precious little Christology, soteriology or pneumatology. (p. 133)</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
Most generally described, the task of theology is to take part in the common work of all the saints, that is, edifying the Church. Like all works of edification, it does this, not out of its own resources, but only insofar as it bears witness to the edifying presence of the risen Christ who through the Spirit speaks his Word, announcing his life-giving presence by which the Church is nourished and made to grow up into himself. The particular witness which theology bears is to the truth of the Gospel. Theology edifies by testifying to the Gospel's promise and claim, and so fulfils its evangelical call. (p. 135)</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
Most of all, I have become aware that the demands of the office, both intellectual and spiritual, are virtually insupportable. For what must the theologian be? Holy, teachable, repentant, attentive to the confession of the Church, resistant to the temptation to treat it with irony or intellectual patronage, vigilant against the enticement to dissipate mind and spirit by attending to sources of fascination other than those held out to us by the Gospel. In short: the operation of theological reason is an exercise in mortification. But mortification is only possible and fruitful if it is generated by the vivifying power of the Spirit of Christ in which the Gospel is announced and its converting power made actual. And it is for this reason that theology must not only begin with but also be accompanied every moment by prayer for the coming of the Spirit, in whose hands alone lie our minds and speeches. (p. 136)</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Those who have been taught or supervised by him can testify to his generosity and capacity for encouragement. Even when positions taken were not those he would personally hold, he was gracious in interaction and perceptive in constructive criticism. I had far too few interactions with him. Those I remember were uniformly encouraging and supportive. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Earlier this year, two volumes of Webster's essays were published under the title <i>God Without Measure: Working Papers in Christian Theology </i>(London: Bloomsbury T. & T. Clark). In one of the articles, answering the question 'What makes theology theological?', he returned to his well-worn theme of the nature of theology. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When is theology theological? Not when it considers itself a polite, if somewhat deferential, contributor to the wider discussions of the academy, bringing its set of 'values' to an agenda which it did not generate, and often finding itself reading out a script written by someone else: that is simply the triumph of the philosophical faculty which Kant considered theology's fate in the age of criticism. Nor, again, when theology tries to give some coherence to its activities by earnest conversations between sub-disciplines: 'theology and biblical studies' and the like. Such conversations, pleasant enough and instructive though they are, commonly assume that though the family has broken down and its members have gone their own separate ways, there's no reason not to have an occasional get-together. Something more comprehensive is asked of us: a recovery of <i>sacra doctrina </i>in its full sense and with its attendant notions of divine instruction, church, holiness, and the like. Whether theological institutions possess the willingness or capacity for such a recovery remains unclear. But a properly theological theology has no reason to be locked in lament and every reason for that magnanimity in which we extend ourselves to great matters. 'If thy law had not been my delight, I should have perished in my affliction', the psalmist says (Ps. 119.92); but: the Lord's word is indeed 'firmly fixed in the heavens' (Ps. 119.82), and so, theology is possible. (p. 224)</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Contemporary Anglophone Christian theology has lost one of it most articulate and perceptive voices. It is a sadness to us that we will receive no more from his pen but we have much for which to thank God in what he has already given us through this servant (including those pieces as yet unpublished but which no doubt will be gathered and published in the months and years ahead).</div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-73273237585764849232015-07-10T06:45:00.000+10:002015-07-10T06:45:48.747+10:00Same-sex intimate unions (5)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk9YoJs9MGSWGhJVLFrXDBupPgV_LUG1-AiFKWqMK9W0ebnZPvzg6GYMM2-ZFvcP45REyGxwpsx_xJ9gIBLpMXyJWi6TFNhTBwhamIBYUDFFHJX99nFDmM8cicE8EMtDdR5mwWg/s1600/wedding-rings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk9YoJs9MGSWGhJVLFrXDBupPgV_LUG1-AiFKWqMK9W0ebnZPvzg6GYMM2-ZFvcP45REyGxwpsx_xJ9gIBLpMXyJWi6TFNhTBwhamIBYUDFFHJX99nFDmM8cicE8EMtDdR5mwWg/s200/wedding-rings.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">This is the final in a series of posts which serialises an article recently written by me on the question of same-sesx intimate unions. The article was written to help Christians see just what are </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">the</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> issues in the debate, why it is so heated, and why it cannot be avoided. The full article can be found at </span></i>http://www.moore.edu.au/resources/thinktank/06-07-2015/same-sex-intimate-unions<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">. I </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">have</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> also posted it here because the entire thing might seem a little daunting to </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">read in one sitting. My hope and prayer is that this will be useful to God's people as we work out how to live as faithful disciples of Christ at this moment in human history.</span></i><br />
<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoSubtitle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 24.0pt; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: center;">
5. The ongoing problem of a campaign
against dissent<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And so we return to the subject with which I began, the campaign against
dissent on this issue which will not end if and when the definition of marriage
is legally changed. Concern about such a campaign was certainly in the mind of
the US Supreme Court justices as they made their 5-4 decision in the case of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Obergefell v Hodges, </i>delivered on 26
June 2015.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That landmark case overturned the right of
individual US states to define marriage only in terms of a man and woman. In
the majority opinion, Justice Kennedy included this statement:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.0cm; margin-right: 1.0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Finally, it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to
religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction
that by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned. The First
Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper
protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so
central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to
continue the family structure they have long revered. The same is true of those
who oppose same-sex marriage for other reasons. In turn, those who believe allowing
same-sex marriage is proper or indeed essential, whether as a matter of
religious conviction or secular belief, may engage those who disagree with
their view in an open and searching debate. (p. 27)</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">However, this assurance did not even convince others on the Supreme Court
bench. The Chief Justice, in presenting a dissenting judgment, remarked: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.0cm; margin-right: 1.0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Today’s decision, for example, creates serious questions about religious
liberty … The majority graciously suggests that religious believers may
continue to ‘advocate’ and ‘teach’ their views of marriage. The First Amendment
guarantees, however, the freedom to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘exercise’
</i>religion. Ominously, that is not a word the majority uses. (pp. 27–28)</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One of the other dissenting judges, Justice Alito, added<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.0cm; margin-right: 1.0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Today’s decision … will be used to vilify Americans who are unwilling to
assent to the new orthodoxy. In the course of its opinion, the majority
compares traditional marriage laws to laws that denied equal treatment for African-Americans
and women. The implications of this analogy will be exploited by those who are
determined to stamp out every vestige of dissent. (p. 6)</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I have already mentioned how decisions like the one made in the United
States have routinely been followed by the application of anti-discrimination
legislation to coerce dissenters into either silence or acquiescence. In many
of those countries assurances were given at the time the legislation was passed
that conscientious objections, in particular those held on religious grounds,
would be respected. Subsequent events have shown how shallow those assurances
were in reality. Redefining marriage is a serious matter, but it is not the end
game as far as the advocates are concerned. The silencing of dissent and the
total unqualified acceptance of sexual activity between two members of the same
sex is the goal. In this volatile environment the challenge to be both
compassionate and faithful is as urgent as ever. We must speak, so that our
fellow brothers and sisters understand the word of God on this issue and just
what is at stake. We must speak so that those in the wider community might be
made aware of the harm such a move will bring to all, not just to some. Amongst
all the other things that must be said though, we must insist upon the right to
dissent while supporting and loving those who struggle with same-sex attraction
and those who have been trapped by the lies of the evil one into a lifestyle
and behaviour that are contrary to the good that God intends and are ultimately
destructive. We cannot afford to back away from either compassion or
faithfulness — and that means we cannot afford to be silent at a time like
this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoSubtitle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 24.0pt; text-align: center;">
Some helpful further reading:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -5.0cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Allberry, S.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Is God Anti-gay? And Other Questions About
Homosexuality, the Bible and Same-sex Attraction. </i>Croydon: The Good Book
Co., 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -5.0cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bird, M. & Preece, G. (eds),<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sexegesis:
An Evangelical Response to ‘Five Uneasy Pieces’ on Homosexuality. </i>Sydney:
Anglican Press, 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -5.0cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">DeYoung, K.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What Does the Bible Really Teach about
Homosexuality? </i>Wheaton: Crossway, 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -5.0cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gagnon, R. A. J.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and
Hermeneutics. </i>Nashville: Abingdon, 2001.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -5.0cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Harris, R. S.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Is There a Case for Same-Sex Marriage? Questions
of Eligibility and Consequences. </i>Eynsham, Oxon: Anglican Mainstream, 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -5.0cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Shaw, E.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Plausibility Problem: The Church and
Same-sex Attraction. </i>Nottingham: IVP, 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -5.0cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Thompson, M. D. (ed),<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Human Sexuality and the ‘Same-sex Marriage’
Debate: A Report of the Sydney Diocesan Doctrine Commission. </i>Sydney:
Aquila, 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -5.0cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Webb, B. G.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>‘Homosexuality
in Scripture’, pp. 65–103 in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Theological
and Pastoral Responses to Homosexuality </i>(Explorations 8; ed. B. G. Webb;
Adelaide: Open Book, 1994).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Georgia;
mso-ascii-font-family:Georgia;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Georgia;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The text of the judgment (both the majority judgment
and the dissenting judgments) can be found at </span><a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> (accessed 2 July
2015). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-61867887446388825242015-07-09T08:12:00.000+10:002017-03-03T18:29:22.281+11:00Same-sex intimate unions (4)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk9YoJs9MGSWGhJVLFrXDBupPgV_LUG1-AiFKWqMK9W0ebnZPvzg6GYMM2-ZFvcP45REyGxwpsx_xJ9gIBLpMXyJWi6TFNhTBwhamIBYUDFFHJX99nFDmM8cicE8EMtDdR5mwWg/s1600/wedding-rings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk9YoJs9MGSWGhJVLFrXDBupPgV_LUG1-AiFKWqMK9W0ebnZPvzg6GYMM2-ZFvcP45REyGxwpsx_xJ9gIBLpMXyJWi6TFNhTBwhamIBYUDFFHJX99nFDmM8cicE8EMtDdR5mwWg/s200/wedding-rings.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">This is the fourth in a series of posts which serialises an article recently written by me on the question of same-sex intimate unions. The article was written to help Christians see just what are </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">the</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> issues in the debate, why it is so heated, and why it cannot be avoided. The full article can be found at </span></i>http://www.moore.edu.au/resources/thinktank/06-07-2015/same-sex-intimate-unions<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">. I </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">have</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> also posted it here because the entire thing might seem a little daunting to </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">read in one sitting. My hope and prayer is that this will be useful to God's people as we work out how to live as faithful disciples of Christ at this moment in human history.</span></i><br />
<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoSubtitle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 24.0pt; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: center;">
4. The challenge of same-sex intimate
unions<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This may well be acknowledged as the Christian teaching on the subject of
homosexual behaviour, explaining why orthodox Christians around the world stand
opposed to a redefinition of marriage to include same-sex intimate unions. But
by what right do we speak beyond ourselves to the world at large on this issue?
There are two answers to that question. The first is that proclaiming God’s
purpose for all human beings and his provision for our common failure in the
life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, is an act of Christian
discipleship. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ involves ‘observing all that I
have commanded you’ (Matt. 28.20). Following his commission to make disciples
of all nations involves ‘teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
you’. How can we be faithful disciples and remain silent on this issue about
which the Bible is clear and unambiguous and our contemporaries are so confused?
Sexual activity between two members of the same-sex is a repudiation of the way
God made the world to be and invites his judgment. It is one of those things on
account of which the wrath of God is coming. God has better things for his
creatures than that. His plan, the way he made the world and relationships in
the world to work best, is far better than what is currently on offer. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The second answer is because of our commitment to the communities in
which we live. Like the Old Testament exiles in Babylon, we seek the welfare of
the city in which the Lord has placed us (Jer. 29.7). Sometimes it is more
loving to say ‘no’ than to say ‘yes’. A redefinition of marriage so as to
include same-sex intimate unions will be harmful. First, it will impact the
nature of existing marriages. At the most basic level, such marriages will no
longer be marriages pure and simple but heterosexual marriages. These are
marriages in which both sexes or genders are celebrated and honoured as opposed
to other marriages where this is not the case. More profoundly, it will further
detach our understanding of marriage from procreation. The unitive and
procreative elements of marriage and sex are not alternatives. Sex unites a man
and a woman as they give their bodies to each other. It is also the act by
which new life is conceived according to God’s plan. Of course not every act of
sexual intercourse results in a pregnancy and neither is it necessarily the
intention of those engaged in the act. However, to detach these two facets from
one another <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in the very definition of
marriage</i> is to transform marriage into little more than another opportunity
for self-expression. Undoubtedly other steps have been taken in that direction
already. Nevertheless, this change in the definition of marriage is the most
radical and most devastating step of all. Marriage is not simply a human social
convention which we are free to redefine at will. Nor is its primary purpose
companionship, though undoubtedly that is an important feature. At its heart
marriage is a gift which is shaped by the realities which God himself created —
sexual polarity as male and female and the commission to ‘be fruitful and
multiply’ (Gen. 1.27–28). So marriage redefined will become a merely human
construct and one which is profoundly out of step with reality.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Secondly, it will impact the children brought up in the context of these
relationships. They will not grow up enjoying the love and nurture of both
biological parents, nor simply of two parents who represent to them the sexual
polarity of the race. There are, of course, many children who develop well
despite, through tragic circumstances, being deprived of one or both of their
biological parents. However, it is a different thing altogether for the
definition of marriage to consider these critical relationships incidental and
dispensable. Men and women parent differently and both contributions are ideal
for the development of children who are confident in their own identity and
sexuality and who respect the opposite sex. The research that has demonstrated
this repeatedly is routinely ignored or derided by those who advocate a new
definition of marriage.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 8.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title="">[1]</a></span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Thirdly, such a change would further cloud our appreciation of
brotherhood, friendship and life-long companionship. This is certainly part of
a much bigger issue to do with the sexualisation of relationships. However, it
is significant in the current debate because many of the advocates of marriage
argue that the fundamental purpose of marriage is companionship. Some argue
this on the basis of a mistranslation of Gen. 2.18 — ‘It is not good that the
man should be alone; I will make a companion fit for him’.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 8.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The inclusion of same-sex intimate unions as
marriage is necessary, so the argument goes, in order to honour and promote and
give proper recognition to this basic human need. Companionship is indeed a
great good. It is an important feature of healthy marriages. However, marriage
is not the only context in which companionship is real and good and even
life-long. Sexual activity is not essential for genuine companionship even if
the unique companionship of marriage is a proper context for sexual activity.
Why must the relationship of David and Jonathan be sexualized? Why should we
assume that two men or two women who flat together are each other’s sexual
partners? Why should people snigger when a person of either sex is introduced
as ‘my friend’? To be sure, the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex
intimate unions is not the only contributor to this problem. However, it will
further cloud the issue.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Finally, a legislative change in this area raises very significant
questions about the relationship of church and state, freedom of speech,
freedom of religion and even freedom of association. Not only is the gap
between our culture and its Judaeo-Christian heritage widened but governments
are assuming the right to determine the shape of one of the basic building
blocks of society in an unprecedented way. However, all they can do is change
the definition of marriage in law. They cannot change the underlying reality,
since marriage is God’s gift and he determines its character and its
boundaries. As the marriage service in the Book of Common Prayer warns, ‘For be
ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God’s Word
doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their Matrimony lawful’.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So while what is at stake is so important that supporters of the move to
endorse same-sex intimate unions as marriage will not tolerate dissent, what is
at stake is so important that Christians cannot refrain from dissenting. The
heat generated by the current debate is a reflection of a clash of worldviews.
A worldview that has at its centre a sovereign Lord, who is both just and good
and whose word brings life, is clashing with a worldview whose highest good is
the pursuit of individual desire and the unrestricted freedom of
self-expression. As in so many clashes of this type, truth is an early casualty
and so is compassion and a willingness to treat those who disagree with us with
respect. Sadly, this has not been all on one side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Georgia;
mso-ascii-font-family:Georgia;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Georgia;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 9.0pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">B. Muehlenberg, ‘Why Children Need a Mother and a
Father’, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Culture Watch </i>(18 October
2010). Online at </span><a href="http://billmuehlenberg.com/2010/10/18/why-children-need-a-mother-and-a-father/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">http://billmuehlenberg.com/2010/10/18/why-children-need-a-mother-and-a-father/</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> (accessed 1 July
2015). N. Nazworth, ‘Kids Need Both Mom and Dad, Says Gay Man Opposed to Gay
Marriage’, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christian Post </i>(28 January
2013) online at </span><a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/kids-need-both-mom-and-dad-says-gay-man-opposed-to-gay-marriage-89018/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">http://www.christianpost.com/news/kids-need-both-mom-and-dad-says-gay-man-opposed-to-gay-marriage-89018/</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> (accessed 1 July
2015).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 9.0pt;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One such argument which repeatedly mistranslates and
then misuses passages of Scripture passages is Changing Attitude, ‘Fifteen
theological arguments for gay marriage’ online at </span><a href="http://changingattitude.org.uk/resources/publications/fifteen-theological-arguments-for-gay-marriage"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">http://changingattitude.org.uk/resources/publications/fifteen-theological-arguments-for-gay-marriage</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> (accessed 2 July
2015). In Genesis 2, especially given the immediately preceding verses, the
word indicates help and the idea that Adam is not able to fulfill the
commission given to him by God without the help of one suitable for that task.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-54317550464301300052015-07-08T08:08:00.000+10:002015-07-08T08:08:47.457+10:00Same-sex intimate unions (3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk9YoJs9MGSWGhJVLFrXDBupPgV_LUG1-AiFKWqMK9W0ebnZPvzg6GYMM2-ZFvcP45REyGxwpsx_xJ9gIBLpMXyJWi6TFNhTBwhamIBYUDFFHJX99nFDmM8cicE8EMtDdR5mwWg/s1600/wedding-rings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk9YoJs9MGSWGhJVLFrXDBupPgV_LUG1-AiFKWqMK9W0ebnZPvzg6GYMM2-ZFvcP45REyGxwpsx_xJ9gIBLpMXyJWi6TFNhTBwhamIBYUDFFHJX99nFDmM8cicE8EMtDdR5mwWg/s200/wedding-rings.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">This is the third in a series of posts which serialises an article recently written by me on the question of same-sesx intimate unions. The article was written to help Christians see just what are </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">the</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> issues in the debate, why it is so heated, and why it cannot be avoided. The full article can be found at </span></i>http://www.moore.edu.au/resources/thinktank/06-07-2015/same-sex-intimate-unions<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">. I </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">have</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> also posted it here because the entire thing might seem a little daunting to </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">read in one sitting. My hope and prayer is that this will be useful to God's people as we work out how to live as faithful disciples of Christ at this moment in human history.</span></i><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoSubtitle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 36.0pt; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: center;">
3. The specific references to
homosexual behaviour in outline<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The texts which indicate that there is something profoundly wrong with
homosexual behaviour are properly understood within this movement from creation
to fall to redemption and consummation. Each of these texts have been expounded
in great detail in the light of the current debates. Despite ingenious attempts
to side-step the obvious, the sin of the townsmen in Sodom and Gomorrah in
Genesis 19 is not simply a failure of hospitality, though it was certainly
that.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What they proposed was both a violent attack
and a sexual act. Yet it was not simply the violence and the lack of consent
that made what they proposed so horrific either. That is clear, not only in the
context, but also in the later Jewish literature and in the New Testament,
where Sodom and/or Gomorrah are spoken of as places where God’s design for sex
is distorted in a most shameful way. Ezekiel 16.46–50 does indeed speak of
pride, hardheartedness and the abuse of the needy. But it also says ‘they did
an abomination before me’, language used in Leviticus and elsewhere of
homosexual acts. Jude 7 speaks of Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities
‘which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire’.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why was it an abomination? Why is it
‘unnatural desire’? The answer lies in the positive teaching about God’s
creation of humanity as ‘male and female’ and the provision of and delight in
marriage and sex in precisely that context.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The two explicit prohibitions of homosexual acts in the Levitical law
(Lev. 18.22 and 20.13) are unqualified. They do not speak of consent or age or
commitment or any other consideration. The only factor mentioned is the gender
of those involved. ‘You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an
abomination’ (Lev. 18.22). ‘If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of
them have committed an abomination … (Lev. 20.13). These prohibitions come
within the Holiness Code of Leviticus. They are part of what is to mark out the
Israelites as different and distinct from the nations around them. To indulge
in this behaviour, and the other sexual offences in surrounding verses, is to
adopt the behaviour of the nations who stand under God’s judgment and those who
do this will receive the same sentence. Nevertheless, three considerations
indicate much more than that. Firstly, the expression ‘as with a woman’ evokes
God’s intention for sex. It is created for a man and a woman to enjoy together.
The language used suggests the creation of humanity as ‘male and female’, and
God’s original design is here brought to bear on the question of this
particular kind of behaviour. Secondly, the use of ‘an abomination’ in both
texts speaks of something profoundly wrong with the behaviour rather than
something which might be appropriate in some contexts but inappropriate in
others. It cannot be reduced to a matter of ritual purity or social taboo which
might be set aside in the very different circumstances of the twenty-first
century.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The language is exceedingly strong and
whenever it is used in the OT (more than 100 times) it indicates something that
is grossly offensive to God. Thirdly, the very fact that this behaviour is also
condemned in the New Testament makes clear that this prohibition belongs to a
different category to the food and clothing laws of the Old Covenant which
distinguished the nation of Israel from others but do not apply when the people
of God are no longer equated with the physical descendants of Abraham. Jesus
declared all foods clean and so set aside the food laws of Leviticus. The
apostle Peter resisted this change and needed not only a vision from heaven
(Acts 10) but also a rebuke of Paul (Gal. 2) before he took it seriously. But
moral injunctions such as those against murder, theft and adultery are
reiterated in the New Testament — they are never acceptable either before or
after the coming of Jesus — and homosexuality is properly located alongside
them. Sexual immorality is one of those things on account of which ‘the wrath
of God is coming’ (Col. 3.5–6).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We have already touched upon Romans 1. As the apostle Paul outlines the
downward spiral that is consequent upon the human decision to ‘suppress the
truth’ and ‘refuse to honour [God] as God or give thanks to him’, he speaks of
God’s judgment in terms of ‘giving them up’. ‘God gave them up in the lusts of
their hearts to impurity, to the dishonouring of their bodies among themselves’
(Rom. 1.24). ‘For this reason God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For
their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed
with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and
receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error’ (Rom. 1.26–27). The
language is strong. This behaviour is described as ‘impurity’, ‘dishonourable’,
‘contrary to nature’ and ‘shameless’. It is a particularly acute example of the
rebellion which provokes ‘the wrath of God’ (Rom. 1.18). It is an overthrow of
God’s design — that is what the language of ‘natural’ and ‘contrary to nature’
indicates — and the chapter reaches a climax when it speaks of people not only
doing these things (and the list is widened to include other behaviour besides
that of homosexual acts, it must be said) ‘but give approval to those who
practice them’ (Rom. 1.32). Once again the context, the flow of the argument
and the actual words used all tell against any suggestion that the real issue
is a lack of consent, or the abandonment of a previous heterosexual
relationship, or the exploitation of positions of power (against slaves or
minors) or pagan ritual practices. Particularly telling against such
suggestions is the inclusion of female same-sex activity alongside male
same-sex activity. The overarching problem is, rather, ‘a debased mind’ which
does ‘what ought not to be done’ (Rom. 1.28). What is more, the acceleration
into this activity is itself part of the judgment of God (witness the threefold
‘God gave them up …’ vv. 24, 26, 28). Of course the next chapter prevents
anyone from assuming they are without sin and so in a position to stand in
judgment over such people. However, as one writer puts it, ‘Just because Paul
wants us to see our own sin does not mean that all moral iniquity ceases to be
sin’.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title="">[4]</a></span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Paul’s argument in Romans 1 begins with the overturning of God’s purpose
in creation by those who ‘suppress the truth by their unrighteousness’. In 1
Corinthians he provides a short list of vices within the framework of the
coming kingdom of God: ‘Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not
inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral,
nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves,
nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the
kingdom of God’ (1 Cor. 6.9–10). Mention of exclusion from the kingdom of God
underlines the seriousness of each of the vices Paul mentions here (not just
homosexual behaviour). From the standpoint of the New Testament as well, it is
clear, the stakes are very high when it comes to this issue. It is clear from
the context in 1 Corinthians, parallel terminology used in Leviticus 18 and 20,
and etymological considerations, that the two words which are translated ‘men
who practice homosexuality’ in this passage refer to the active and passive partners
in homosexual sexual activity. Once again any suggestion that the reference
should be understood more narrowly to exploitation, or pederasty, or ritual
prostitution cannot be justified from the text itself. The condemnation of this
behaviour is no more narrow than that of the other behaviours mentioned in this
passage. Homosexual activity has no place in the coming kingdom of God.
However, it is just as important to notice the verse which follows: ‘And such
were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God’ (1 Cor. 6.11).
‘[P]ractising homosexuals, no less than other sinners, are potential candidates
for regeneration’.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such a dramatic change, which can only be
effected by God, will, of course, mean forsaking those patterns of behaviour
which would otherwise exclude you from the kingdom of God. That is the purpose
of Paul’s argument in this chapter. ‘Flee from sexual immorality’, he will
write as the chapter concludes. ‘Every other sin a person commits is outside
the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body’ (1 Cor.
6.18).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christ’s apostle to the nations, Paul, wrote again on this subject in one
of his last letters to his ministry apprentice, Timothy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.0cm; margin-right: 1.0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding
this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and
disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those
who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men
who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is
contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the
blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (1 Tim. 1.8–10)</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One of the two words used in 1 Corinthians 6 is used again here. Paul
includes ‘men who practice homosexuality’ in a list of behaviours which he knew
the Old Testament Law condemned. Yet this is not just a word for the era before
Christ. Paul begins his long sentence with a clause insisting that the Law is
good. At the other end of the list, however he characterises all these
behaviours as contrary to ‘sound doctrine’, an expression he uses also in 2
Timothy 4.3 and Titus 2.1. Behaviour and doctrine are inextricably linked as
far as Christ’s apostle is concerned. There are forms of behaviour which both
contravene the good law of God and undermine the sound teaching of the gospel
of grace. God’s undeserved favour is freely given but it can be rejected as
much by what we do as what we say.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As even this brief outline makes clear, the Bible does speak directly on
the subject of homosexual activity and its assessment is uniformly negative. As
one evangelical scholar has put it, ‘there is nothing ambiguous about the
biblical witness concerning homosexuality’.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, even scholars personally committed to
the acceptability of same-sex intimate unions acknowledge this. So, Diarmaid
MacCulloch of Oxford University wrote in 2003, ‘Despite much well-intentioned
theological fancy footwork to the contrary, it is difficult to see the Bible as
expressing anything else but disapproval of homosexual activity, let alone
having any conception of homosexual identity. The only alternatives are either
to try to cleave to patterns of life and assumptions set out in the Bible, or
to say that in this, as in much else, the Bible is simply wrong.’</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the same year, on the other side of the
Atlantic, Dan Via of Duke University Divinity School, in the midst of outlining
a positive case for homosexuality, concluded ‘the biblical texts that deal
specifically with homosexual practice condemn it unconditionally’.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, it is important to remember
again why the Bible’s teaching is so uniformly against homosexual behaviour —
not a condemnation of the temptation to act in such a way but the activity
itself. Homosexuality involves an overturning and repudiation of God’s good
creational intent: he created humanity male and female and as male and female
we are the image of God. His intention is a joyful, shame-free expression of that
sexual polarity in the context of marriage. Such marriage, as the basis of the
family and a picture of the union between Christ and his church, is to be
honoured by all. Any behaviour that repudiates or undermines this exceedingly
good gift that God has given both dishonours him and harms his creatures. That
is why the Bible’s language in condemning homosexual behaviour is so consistent
and so strong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Georgia;
mso-ascii-font-family:Georgia;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Georgia;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Much of what is said here could also be said of the
horrific escalation of such behavior in the somewhat parallel incident in
Judges 19.22–26. Such was the outcry on that occasion that wholesale war
erupted (Judg. 20).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> L. Wilson, ‘Let Sodom be Sodom! Another Look at
Genesis 19’, pp. 48–64 in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sexegesis: An
Evangelical Response to ‘Five Uneasy Pieces’ on Homosexuality </i>(ed. M. Bird
& G. Preece; Sydney: Anglican Press, 2012); K. DeYoung, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What does the Bible Really Teach about
Homosexuality? </i>(Wheaton: Crossway, 2015), 33–38.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">K. Smith’ The Culpability of Sexual Offence:
Understanding Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 in Context’, in Bird & Preece, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sexegesis, </i>65–86; DeYoung, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Homosexuality, </i>39–47.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">DeYoung, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Homosexuality,
</i>49–57 (pp. 56–7); M. Bird & S. Harris, ‘Paul’s Jewish View of Sexuality
in Romans 1:26–27)’, in Bird & Preece, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sexegesis,
</i>87–104.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">B. G. Webb, ‘Homosexuality in Scripture’, pp. 65–103
in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Theological and Pastoral Responses to
Homosexuality </i>(Explorations 8; ed. B. G. Webb; Adelaide: Open Books, 1994),
94.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">DeYoung, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Homosexuality,
</i>73.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">D. MacCulloch, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reformation:
Europe’s House Divided 1490–1700 </i>(London: Penguin, 2003), 705.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn8" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">D. O. Via & R. A. J. Gagnon, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Homosexuality and the Bible: Two Views </i>(Minneapolis: Fortress,
2003), 93. Long lists have been compiled of those supportive of homosexual
unions who recognize the Bible teaches otherwise. These lists include, Pim
Pronk, Louis Crompton, Bernadette Brooten, Thomas K Hubbard, William Schoedel,
Martti Nissinen, Walter Wink. See R. A. J. Gagnon, ‘How Bad is Homosexual
Practice According to Scripture and Does Scripture’s Indictment Apply to Committed
Homosexual Unions?’ online at </span><a href="http://www.robgagnon.net/HowBadIsHomosexualPractice.htm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">http://www.robgagnon.net/HowBadIsHomosexualPractice.htm</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> (accessed 1 July
2015).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-26369020225062989952015-07-07T07:17:00.000+10:002015-07-07T07:17:17.140+10:00Same-sex intimate unions (2)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk9YoJs9MGSWGhJVLFrXDBupPgV_LUG1-AiFKWqMK9W0ebnZPvzg6GYMM2-ZFvcP45REyGxwpsx_xJ9gIBLpMXyJWi6TFNhTBwhamIBYUDFFHJX99nFDmM8cicE8EMtDdR5mwWg/s1600/wedding-rings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk9YoJs9MGSWGhJVLFrXDBupPgV_LUG1-AiFKWqMK9W0ebnZPvzg6GYMM2-ZFvcP45REyGxwpsx_xJ9gIBLpMXyJWi6TFNhTBwhamIBYUDFFHJX99nFDmM8cicE8EMtDdR5mwWg/s200/wedding-rings.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i><span style="line-height: 24px;">This is the second in a series of posts which serialises an article recently written by me on the question of same-sesx intimate unions. The article was written to help Christians see just what are </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">the</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> issues in the debate, why it is so heated, and why it cannot be avoided. The full article can be found at </span></i>http://www.moore.edu.au/resources/thinktank/06-07-2015/same-sex-intimate-unions<i><span style="line-height: 24px;">. I </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">have</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> also posted it here because the entire thing might seem a little daunting to </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">read in one sitting. My hope and prayer is that this will be useful to God's people as we work out how to live as faithful disciples of Christ at this moment in human history.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoSubtitle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 36.0pt; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: center;">
2. The framework for a Christian discussion
of marriage and sex<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So how do Christians speak into this debate? There is no neutral starting
point for discussion, the atmosphere is tense and the deliberate campaign of
re-education on this issue has been underway for decades. Christians rightly
want to be both compassionate and faithful, and in the eyes of some that
combination is so difficult at times one or other of these commitments must be
redefined. Acknowledging our own brokenness, misdirected desire and continuing
battle with sin means we cannot stand in a censorious position simply
condemning the behaviour of others, but what room remains for speaking of some
choices as harmful, self-destructive and deeply wrong? Furthermore, in the
search for common ground, a number of Christian contributors to the debates
have made very significant concessions, which have themselves made dissent from
the campaign to legitimize homosexual behaviour even more difficult. Confused
issues include the relation of: sexual behaviour and personal identity; the unitive
and procreative purposes of sex and marriage; the Old Testament Law and New
Testament ethics; genuine inclusion and the call for repentance; the historic
social conscience of evangelicalism (e.g. Wilberforce’s battle against slavery,
Luther King’s battle against racial discrimination) and the issues at the heart
of the present debate. The classically Christian appeal to Scripture is made
complicated by the suggestion of interpretive complexity at each of the
critical points and an argument that what we face today is something very
different to that which is spoken about in these ancient texts. While serious responses
have been made at each of these points, they are rarely heard or even
acknowledged. Most unsettling for some is the way high profile Christian
figures, such as Steve Chalke in the UK and Tony Campolo in the US, have
announced their support for same-sex intimate unions.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title="">[1]</a></span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In such a charged environment the positive Christian message is one of
the first casualities. Indeed, part of the strategy alluded to earlier involves
casting religious argument as inherently negative, reactive, repressive and
even harmful. Yet the Christian who knows the goodness of God, present in our
world from the moment of its creation but concentrated in the life and death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ, has something very positive to say about
God’s rich provision for human flourishing. He made the world to work and to
work well. He gave it its own intelligibility: we can make sense of the world
on its own terms, but never fully without reference to him. His determination
to secure the future of all who will turn to him and who will trust the one he
has provided as the Saviour of the world — despite the extraordinary cost—is a
testimony to his benevolence.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the end, Christian teaching about homosexuality does not simply rely
on five isolated, condemnatory biblical texts — ‘five uneasy pieces’ from Genesis
19, Leviticus 18–20, Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6 and 1 Timothy 1. It is anchored
in a far richer biblical theology of human relationships that begins in
creation and ends in the consummation of all things. In Genesis 2 a woman is
brought to a man to be united to him. In Revelation 19.9 we are invited to the
wedding banquet of the Lamb. The New Jerusalem comes down from heaven adorned
as a bride for her husband (Rev 21.2). At neither extremity of the Bible’s
overarching story is this imagery merely incidental. The union of a man and a
woman in a life-long exclusive sexual partnership pictures something both
profound and consistent in the purposes of God. The deep, personal giving and
receiving of each other, the delight in what makes us different as well as what
unites us, the orientation to new life and an open generosity towards others,
all point back to God. Of course the explanatory centre is Christ — the
relation of husband and wife is brought into the closest connection with the
relation of Christ and the church in Ephesians 5. All things are made by him,
through him and for him (Col 1.16), including marriage. Redefining marriage is
not just a matter of tinkering with interchangeable or even dispensable
details; it is tampering with something deeply woven into the fabric of reality
and necessary for human flourishing. What happens to the Bible’s teaching about
Christ and the church if marriage is no longer the relation of a husband and a
wife?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sexuality is part of humanity as created by God. It is a good and
delightful part of how we were made. Expressed in the way in which God intended
it to be, it is a nourishing, life-promoting gift. We honour God as we delight
in this aspect of who he made us to be. The Bible’s view of sex is positive and
encouraging: ‘Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your
youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times
with delight; be intoxicated always in her love’ (Prov. 5.18–19). Right from
the very beginning, the marriage of a man and woman is an honourable thing
which recognises and delights in what we might call the polarity of the race
(male and female) — the words of Adam when Eve is brought to him in the Garden,
the delight expressed in the Song of Songs, Jesus’ presence at the wedding in
Cana and poetic language about the bride of the Lamb, all in different ways
attest to this. No wonder God says to us through the writer to the Hebrews,
‘Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be
undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous’ (Heb. 13.4).
Yet our sexuality is not what defines us as human beings or even as particular
human beings. It is possible to be fully human and not personally experience
every human possibility. It is possible to be fully human, and joyfully so, and
live without sex. Many do by choice or by necessity — not to mention the human
being <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">par excellance, </i>Jesus himself.
No, the Bible’s language for what defines us as human beings is the image of
God. We are made to be in relationship with God and to live and act in the
created world as those properly related to the Creator. That is what
distinguishes us from the rest of the animal creation. That is what defines us.
Ultimately we were not made for sex just as we were not made for work (though
both remain good, even now). We were made to know the one who made us and to
live in his world as his people under his blessing. We were made to participate
in that wonderful fellowship that is eternally his as Father, Son and Holy
Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">However, all of that began to unravel with the decision to live apart
from God, to seek independence from him, to decide what is good and healthy and
right, and what is evil and destructive and wrong, without reference to him.
Sex is a casualty of the Fall like everything else. Misdirected desire,
exploitation and abuse, and the overturning of boundaries set by God are all
the product of futile thinking and depraved behaviour, which are themselves the
result of ‘exchanging the truth about God for a lie’ (Rom. 1.25). Romans
1.18–32 outlines the downward spiral that follows that initial decision,
culminating not only in the embrace of degrading and destructive behaviour, but
also in the celebration of it. The impact of the Fall is all-embracing. It
extends to the genetic level of our being and distorts the largest scale social
structures. Each of us is affected in every facet of who we are. Of course we
are still capable of speaking the truth and of expressing genuine other-centred
compassion, generosity and love, but alongside this and overshadowing it all is
our capacity for the opposite. Each one of us experiences this fracture in a
propensity, predisposition or orientation towards certain destructive
behaviours. Some feel the pull of greed and covetousness more than others. Some
wrestle with anger and violence, some with pride, arrogance and hardheartedness.
Some have difficulty with honesty and truth-telling. Some struggle with sexual
temptation of one kind or another — promiscuity, adultery, or same-sex
attraction. Outward circumstances are met with an inward inclination (James
1.13–15) — misdirected desire or wrongly ordered love as Augustine famously
called it — and we are tempted.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet the very fact that we are tempted, though
a legacy of the Fall, is not itself sin. By God’s grace it is possible to
endure it (1 Cor. 10.13). As Luther famously said, quoting one of Jerome’s
hermits, ‘Dear brother, you cannot prevent the birds from flying over your
head, but you can certainly keep them from building a nest in your hair’.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luther was not trivialising temptation. He
certainly realised that temptation — perhaps some temptations more than others
— could at times be incredibly intense and all-consuming. The struggle against
temptation is not an easy thing and compassion rather condemnation is the
proper response of fellow-strugglers. Luther’s point was that God is the one to
turn to in the midst of the struggle. That’s why we pray ‘Lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil’ (Matt. 6.13).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Into a world where everything, including our sexuality, is fractured by
sin, the gospel is spoken as a word of forgiveness and hope. God has entered
his creation in order to undo the damage done at the Fall. Through Jesus, the
eternal Son who has taken a full human nature fully to himself — more
particularly, through his perfectly faithful life, his atoning death and his
triumphant resurrection — salvation is offered to all men and women. Every community,
including the LGBTI community, is addressed by the gospel. The love of God is
proclaimed as Jesus and what he has done is made known. The summons of God to
faith, repentance and new life is given, since unconditional and unrestrained
grace radically reorients the lives of those who receive it. No one is beyond
the reach of grace. Where Christians have given that impression, we need to repent
and seek to model the open-armed generosity of our heavenly Father. Yet no one
who has received grace can continue to insist that they determine for
themselves what is good and what is evil. Discipleship does involve attentively
hearing and changing in the light of our Master’s teaching (Matt. 7.21–27). The
gospel is good news and it makes a concrete difference to the way we view
ourselves and the world.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One of those differences is, or should be, the way we treat those who are
struggling with temptation and those who have surrendered to it. Understanding
grace entails an understanding that each one of us is lost and needy apart from
God’s mercy towards us in Jesus Christ. We do not stand over or better than
anyone else who struggles with their predisposition towards particular sins. I’ve
already mentioned that compassion rather condemnation is the proper attitude of
fellow-strugglers. Aware of what God in Christ has done for us we reach out and
welcome the broken and those trapped by the powerful illusion of ‘misdirected
love’. We want them first and foremost to hear of something far better than
they could ever have imagined. We want them to hear of the possibility of a
life without shame, without fear and without condemnation. That doesn’t mean
trying to ‘fix’ them as if that were in our power and as if we ourselves are
without need of ‘fixing’. The great ‘fix’ for all of us will only come when
Jesus returns and the struggle with sin is over forever, when every tear is
wiped away, when death itself is undone and there is no more mourning or crying
or pain (Rev. 21.4). That is God’s work and he will most certainly accomplish
it. Our responsibility, in the meantime, is show the same unconditional love
which was shown to us, while we speak with gentleness but without compromise of
what God has made known about his will for us. It is about demonstrating as
well as teaching the plausibility of living as a wholehearted disciple of Jesus
Christ in today’s world and the deep implausibility of the alternatives.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title="">[4]</a></span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The gospel holds out for us the hope of forgiveness secured,
justification given and a day when the triumph of Christ will be realised in
every life and every situation. We and even the creation itself await the
redemption of the children of God (Rom. 8.19–24a). That redemption has a
particular character though. ‘There is therefore now no condemnation for those
who are in Christ Jesus’ (Rom. 8.1). It is Jesus who ‘delivers us from the
wrath to come’ (1 Thess.9–10). The final salvation is salvation in the midst of
judgment. The disorder of the world and the harm caused by the pursuit of an
illusory autonomy — for every breath and heartbeat of even the most rebellious
remains God’s gift — will not be ignored or minimalized. Yet the Christian
gospel anchors our sure hope of forgiveness and deliverance and the making of
all things new. Though that hope does not include marriage and sex, which are
realities for this world only according to Jesus (Mk 12.25), still the great
joy and thanksgiving of a wedding provides an ideal picture of the consummation
of God’s purposes. The redeemed people of God are presented to Christ as a pure
and glorious bride to her husband (Rev. 19.6–9). This is the marriage that
really matters and the only one that lasts forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Georgia;
mso-ascii-font-family:Georgia;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Georgia;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;">Steve Chalke’s article can be found at </span><a href="http://www.premierchristianity.com/Featured-Topics/Homosexuality/The-Bible-and-Homosexuality-Part-One"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://www.premierchristianity.com/Featured-Topics/Homosexuality/The-Bible-and-Homosexuality-Part-One</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;"> (accessed 22 June 2015). Tony Campolo’s article can be found at </span><a href="http://tonycampolo.org/for-the-record-tony-campolo-releases-a-new-statement/#.VXykCWBRe-L"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://tonycampolo.org/for-the-record-tony-campolo-releases-a-new-statement/#.VXykCWBRe-L</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> (accessed 22 June
2015). To these could be added the work of Mark Achtemeier of Dubuque Seminary,
especially his recent book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bible’s
Yes to Same-Sex Marriage: An Evangelical’s Change of Heart </i>(Louisville:
Westminster John Knox, 2014), who reimagines Scripture on the basis of a
remarkably reductionist definition of marriage: ‘God gives human beings the
gifts of love, marriage, and sexuality in order to help us grow into the image
of Christ’s self-giving love’ (p. 52).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">James 1.13–15; Augustine, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">City of God, </i>XV.22 (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">NPNF </i>II:302–303).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Luther, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">An
Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer </i>(1519) in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LW </i>42:73.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ed Shaw’s book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Plausibility Problem: The Church and Same-Sex Attraction </i>(Nottingham: IVP,
2015) is a wonderful encouragement in this direction. Ed writes as a man who
experiences same-sex attraction but remains committed to living in the light of
the Bible’s teaching on the subject.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24956843.post-86490437320574837032015-07-06T11:11:00.003+10:002015-07-06T11:15:00.786+10:00Same-sex intimate unions (1)<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin-top: 36pt; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MfqHSoxhwJI4f2Nv33XCW947anSKjWvaUVmCUsUx6giWakFqpe0pkkqYt7qloYp41E72R3TPVh_p1LbQP-6TyxIxg41m4TMVAp9F4OjVxAhKHneersdu7R9xHPt4PGKMklD_lw/s1600/wedding-rings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MfqHSoxhwJI4f2Nv33XCW947anSKjWvaUVmCUsUx6giWakFqpe0pkkqYt7qloYp41E72R3TPVh_p1LbQP-6TyxIxg41m4TMVAp9F4OjVxAhKHneersdu7R9xHPt4PGKMklD_lw/s200/wedding-rings.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i><span style="line-height: 150%;">This is the first in a series of posts which serialises an article recently written by me on the question of same-sesx intimate unions. The article was written to help Christians see just what are </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">the</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> issues in the debate, why it is so heated, and why it cannot be avoided. The full article can be found at </span></i>http://www.moore.edu.au/resources/thinktank/06-07-2015/same-sex-intimate-unions<i><span style="line-height: 150%;">. I </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">have</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> also posted it here because the entire thing might seem a little daunting to </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">read in one sitting. My hope and prayer is that this will be useful to God's people as we work out how to live as faithful disciples of Christ at this moment in human history.</span></i></div>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoSubtitle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 36.0pt; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: center;">
1. The critical nature of the current
debate<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Once again the issue of same-sex intimate unions is in the headlines. Voting
on yet another Bill to bring about a change to the Marriage Act (1961) in
Australia is imminent — this follows failed attempts in February 2010 and
September 2012. In an astonishingly short period of time, the homosexual lobby
in its various guises has managed to gain an even more astonishing degree of
support world-wide. Following the decriminalisation of homosexuality (Britain
1967, Canada 1969, USA 1962–2003, Australia 1972–1997), the government of nation
after nation has voted to recognise intimate unions between two people of the same
sex as ‘marriage’, often legislating a change in the definition of marriage to
accommodate such a recognition (Netherlands 2000, Canada 2005, Germany 2013,
France 2013, Britain 2013, Ireland 2015, United States 2015).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The supporters of these changes insist that this is an issue of
fundamental human rights — the right to marry the one I love — and of equality.
The slogan that has been used with most effect in the campaign in Australia is
‘marriage equality’. Just as racial equality was the great cause of the
mid-twentieth century, and gender equality similarly in the late twentieth
century, the time has come for marriage equality. It is presented as the great
civil liberty issue of our time. Listen to the speeches of the advocates — the
stakes are very high indeed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Which is of course why they cannot tolerate any dissent. They will not
allow the arguments against them to be put without challenge or without
interruption. To them, all such arguments are simply immoral. Those who oppose
the modification of the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex intimate
unions are decried as ignorant, intolerant, or both, the last vestige of
traditional bigotry and religious oppression. As one television panellist put
it, they’re just ‘brain-dead’. This also explains why the campaign has
continued well after the legislation has been passed in various countries
around the world. Changing the definition of the word ‘marriage’ has proven to
be too small a goal in the end. The legitimisation of this lifestyle and
behaviour, acceptance and the end of criticism, the silencing of dissent—from
whatever quarter it may come—are the bigger and more important goals.
Unsurprisingly, then, in those places where the definition of marriage has been
changed, antidiscrimination legislation has been used to punish and silence
those who voice a conscientious objection. No conscientious objection can be
tolerated because all people of good conscience are committed to freedom and
equality. Witness the recent proposal of a high profile UK politician, an
aspirant for the Labour leadership no less, that ‘faith schools must be forced
to teach about gay and lesbian relationships on a par with heterosexual
couples’.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title="">[1]</a></span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The danger is, of course, that if no dissenting argument is allowed to be
heard and the reasons for conscientious objection are not seriously engaged, we
can delude ourselves into thinking there are no coherent arguments and no
cogent reasons. It is possible to present this change as both necessary and
inevitable and even to suggest it is a change that can be made without any
adverse consequences at all. But how can we be sure that is the case if we do
not listen—seriously and sympathetically listen—to the voices of dissent? Even
the assumptions that this issue is about the deepest levels of personal
identity, about justice and equality, then remain just assumptions — unexamined
and so unproven. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It is too easy, and not a little lazy or intellectually dishonest, to
point to the shrill voice of the fundamentalist—the ugly slogans of hate in
some of the protests in America, for example—and suggest this is what all
opposition to the change is like and so we do not need to listen to any of them.
But there have in fact been numerous calm and carefully reasoned arguments
raised against the proposed changes. Many have raised significant concerns
about such a redefinition of marriage and its consequences. Some of these concerns
have indeed arisen from the context of religious conviction and Christian
faith. They are often dismissed out of hand, before the rigour and evidential
base of their arguments can be assessed. The slightest hint of religious faith
renders a person incapable of rational argument, or so it would seem. Others
have arisen in an entirely different context, from people who are committed to
a secular worldview but who nonetheless see dangers with such a significant
shift in one of the basic building blocks of human society. These are simply
ignored. In between, some men and women of faith have sought to argue without a
direct appeal to their convictions about the revealed will of God and a given
shape to personal and social morality. They have sought common ground and
common criteria for what is good and true and what is not. The tragedy is that,
whatever the context in which dissenting arguments arise, they rarely, if ever,
get a public hearing. You can be overwhelmed with angry reader responses just
for running a story about one couple’s decision to protest against what they
see as a devaluation of marriage.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can be forced to make a public apology or
be removed from your job, just for daring to say ‘I disagree’. Yet responsible
public debate requires both sides to be heard respectfully, even
sympathetically, before they are evaluated. It ought to be a matter of serious
concern to all if counter-arguments are not allowed to be heard, let alone
engaged. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So the atmosphere is highly charged. Both sides of the debate understand
that the presenting issue is surrounded by a number of other more profound
issues to do with the nature of human existence, the nature and limits of freedom,
the best and most nourishing environment for the development of children, and the
way we handle both diversity and disagreement. The consequences of accepting
this change or decisively rejecting it are massive and they have not always
been examined openly and honestly. Instead, much more subtle modes of
persuasive discourse have been employed. The normality and even the
desirability of same-sex intimate unions had been the subtext of Hollywood
movies long before <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Four Weddings and a
Funeral </i>and will continue to be so long after <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Imitation Game.</i></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Primary school curricula and reading lists now include
specific reference to sexual orientation, the normality of diversity in sexual
partnerships, and much more.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rumours are rife of international aid payments
tied to an openness to change on this issue.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘What I do’ has morphed into ‘who I am’
without anybody noticing. The slogans suborn the language of ‘relevance’,
‘tolerance’, compassion’ and ‘equality’ on one side, and ‘unnatural’,
‘perverse’, ‘destructive’ and ‘harmful’ on the other. But without reliable
agreed criteria, who is to say just who is using and who is abusing these
terms?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We have not arrived at this point by accident. Careful thought has gone
into how to re-educate the community as a whole and turn rejection into
acceptance.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Particular attention has been paid to securing
the support of the gate-keepers of public opinion — journalists, film-makers,
educators and politicians. There has been no conspiracy. This is an openly acknowledged,
deliberate strategy to bring about a highly significant social change. And it
has always involved marginalising, demonising and finally silencing those who
speak against it.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Georgia;
mso-ascii-font-family:Georgia;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Georgia;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> Reported in the UK
Telegraph on 25 June 2015</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">(</span><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/andy-burnham/11699408/Faith-schools-must-be-forced-to-teach-about-homosexuality-Andy-Burnham.html"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/andy-burnham/11699408/Faith-schools-must-be-forced-to-teach-about-homosexuality-Andy-Burnham.html</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> accessed 26 June
2015).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;">The story was published in the Canberra City News (</span><a href="http://citynews.com.au/2015/gay-law-change-may-force-us-to-divorce/"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://citynews.com.au/2015/gay-law-change-may-force-us-to-divorce/</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> accessed 12 June
2015).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Four Weddings and Funeral</i> (PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, 1994); <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Imitation Ga</i>me (Black Bear Pictures,
2014).</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;">The primary school near my home makes use of the children’s book<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> And Tango Makes Three, </i>by P. Parnell
& J. Richardson (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005) and celebrates ‘Wear
it Purple Day’, which began as address of bullying, especially homophobic
bullying, but has gone much further (see </span><a href="http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org.au/"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;">www.safeschoolscoalition.org.au</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;">). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/12/06/presidential-memorandum-international-initiatives-advance-human-rights-l"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/12/06/presidential-memorandum-international-initiatives-advance-human-rights-l</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> (accessed 12 June
2015); </span><a href="http://www.euractiv.com/sections/development-policy/schulz-cut-aid-african-countries-anti-gay-laws-301261"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://www.euractiv.com/sections/development-policy/schulz-cut-aid-african-countries-anti-gay-laws-301261</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> (accessed 12 June
2015).</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;">M. Kirk & H. Madsen, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">After the
Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90s </i>(New
York: Doubleday, 1989); C. Socarides, ‘How America Went Gay’,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">America </span></i><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">(Nov
18, 1995) online at </span></span><a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1859401/posts"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;">www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1859401/posts</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;"> (accessed 12 June 2015).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24956843#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS P明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Kirk & Madsen, 179, 189–90.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240607529129349650noreply@blogger.com