Bridge of Reason

A weekly Bible reading for Bridge Builders The Richmond Briefing has been a weekly feature of the Reachout web site for five years and is now available on the blog. To find out more and read earlier briefings go here Reading – What Did You Expect? (Luke 7:18-23) In Matthew’s gospel Jesus speaks of the signs of the end of the age and gives a very clear warning about wrong expectations: “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible. See I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightening that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Mt.24:23-27) He addressed a common human problem and weakness, especially ...

Scientology has been much in the news lately and one wonders if there will be some changes ahead. The trial in Paris could lead to their work being curtailed or banned altogether in France. The trial is still in its early stages but here is a recent update: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/273868 However, what is already clear and out in the open is a report that appeared in St. Petersburg Times in Florida. Mark C. "Marty" Rathbun left the Church of Scientology staff in late 2004, ending a 27-year career that saw him rise to be a top lieutenant to Miscavige in the organization. For the past four years, he has lived a low-profile life in Texas. Some speculated he had died. In February, Rathbun posted an Internet message announcing he was available to counsel other disaffected Scientologists. "Having dug myself out of the dark pit where many who leave the church land," he wrote, "I began lending a hand to others similarly situated." Contacted by the St....

Here is an interesting development. A blog to petition the Mormon Church to change its policy on homosexuality – by Mormons. Whatever your view on the issue this is a thoughtful blog and a very interesting development. Another example of Mormons beginning to think for themselves and face the issues of the modern world without simply toeing the party line. "We the undersigned, in the spirit of love and peace, earnestly seek to create a climate for reconciliation between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and gays and lesbians who have been affected by the policies, practices and politics of the Church. We recognize that issues surrounding sexuality and gender orientation are complex; that understanding of these matters has evolved, especially over the past several decades, and are continuing to evolve as scientists, therapists, theologians and others continue to explore and ponder their meaning and significance; We believe that people of good will may have differing v...

A weekly Bible reading for Bridge Builders The Richmond Briefing has been a weekly feature of the Reachout web site for five years and is now available on the blog. To find out more and read earlier briefings go here Reading – The Test of Faith (Mark 8:1-30) Faith is a strange thing. Everyone thinks they know what it is yet many people you might expect to have it fail to exercise it. We are told that “Herod feared John [the Baptist]...knowing him to be a righteous and holy man” (Mk.6:20) Yet Herod had John beheaded at the whim of his wife. Knowing things to be true is not the same thing as having faith it seems. When Jesus was moved by compassion for the people that had followed him for three days he shared his concern with his disciples (Mk.8:1-4) who began to wonder where on earth they were going to get food for so many in such a remote area. Jesus sat the crowd down and fed them. The disciples had seen Jesus do this and many other miracles before but were slow to realise what was ...

Now here’s the thing. If you ask a Mormon about polygamy they will patiently and firmly explain that a few Mormons did that ‘back in the day’ and for reasons best known to God (population problems, culture, who knows) but it is such a long time ago and so passé’ that   you should even ask. If you press them about the inclusion of definitive teaching on polygamy as a church dogma in Mormon Scripture ( D&C 132 ) as well as definitive statements by early Mormon prophets ( Brigham Young et al )they will say that the benefit of having prophets is that they can tell you God’s will for today and Mormons don’t practice or teach polygamy today. Its the classic evasive argument. So here’s the Mormon Church baptising dead ‘apostate’ polygamous fundamentalists and sealing them in a proxy temple ceremony to their polygamous wives – even the ones from whom they were divorced while alive. The truth is that polygamy is part of the very fabric of Mormonism just as monogamy is fundament...

Crop circle 'experts' are seeing the latest pattern discovered in Wiltshire, a phoenix rising from the flames, as a warning about the end of the world. It is amazing to me that they can be so glib about the world ending in 2012 with the certainty that civilization will rise again from the ashes. Christians, relying on the authenticated word of God, have been saying for years that the world will end but are not so glib. They have shown the way people need to get ready for the event to ensure that they will 'rise again' afterwards. I guess it's all part of the world we live in – let's ignore the historical proven character of Jesus Christ and rely on the mythical aliens! I trust many will see the error of this philosophy before it is too late – be that 2012 or whenever. Remember too it could be much earlier if we die before the event. Then there are those who were asked which dead person they wanted most to talk to . They weren't asked what they wanted to say...

“Christians in this country are being sidelined and discriminated and even some pastors have been threatened and beaten, because of preaching the Gospel,” he said. “I believe it is time for Christians to raise our voices and stand up for our rights and values, which are being sacrificed in the name of political correctness.” Who is speaking and which country does he have in mind? The speaker is Canon Yaqub Masih of the Asian Christian Fellowship so you might expect his concern would be for an Asian country but no. He is addressing the problem of growing persecution of Christians in the UK. It is reported that one in five Christians now complain of discrimination because of their faith. Have you noticed that people hate Christ now? Say you are a Christian and often people will screw their faces up in a sneer and exclaim, “Don’t ram your religion down my throat!” Defend your faith and they speak disparagingly of Christian superstition and ignorance. The reaction is positive...