Most read opinions/reflections 2019

Two blogs exploring longstanding questions asked of the Christian faith received the most attention in The Baptist Times in 2019. Why does God allow bad things to happen? written in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Sri Lanka by Chris Goswami, received the most hits, closely followed by Colin Sedgwick's reflection on horrible passages in the Bible - Bad things in God’s word.

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1 Why does God allow bad things to happen? Ultimately not a question we can answer satisfactorily, but there are things we can say that might help. By Chris Goswami

2 Bad things in God’s word What are we, as followers of Jesus, to make of the horrible passages of the Bible? Colin Sedgwick offers a reflection on Judges 19

3 A new year, new possibilities September is a good time to consider the deeper change God longs for in our churches, writes Trevor Neill

4 A reflection for Maundy Thursday This is my body, this is my blood: With his words he held out broken bread and the cup of wine...

5 What can Christians do about knife crime? The view from a local church, by Dr Sally Mann, Minister of Bonny Downs Baptist Church in East London

6 Christians and the pursuit of perfection Can we be real in our churches about the reality of mental health struggles?

7 Women in Ministry: still a sticking point? Ali Taylor was invited to create a mosaic at the recent Baptist International Conference on Theological Education

8 The difference a church can make Faith Bowers on the impact of Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church's support for her son Richard throughout his 50 years

9 Nurturing the gift of a listening ear In this age where social media has diminished communication skills, there is an even greater need to listen well

10 The radical economics of scripture Our economic system is fundamentally unjust. Can we imagine a just economics in line with the grace of scripture?

Baptist Times, 16/12/2019

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An “Island of Strangers” or diverse communities of inclusion?

Once again, a Western government misleads its voters over immigration, writes John Heathershaw. Political discourse has become devoid of hope on this issue and misses the practical realities of inclusion

On the edge of the abyss

After recently spending eight days in Israel, Baptist church member David Nelson offers this reflection

Flourishing churches and the power of leadership

Laura Palmer shares reflections from a church planting conference hosted by the Bede Centre for Church Planting Theology at Cranmer Hall in Durham

Can we make the quiet revival louder?

Phil Knox explores some of the latest ‘revival’ research and asks how we need to respond as the UK Church

A quiet revival?

I welcome a recent study showing an increase in church attendance - but I don't like the word revival. I believe God is doing something new—not reviving the old; a re-formation, not a revival. By Michael Shaw