The pox, Lines in the sand and cultural preaching preferences.

Just back from holiday (hence the gap in posts). Spent time down in Keswick having towed a caravan down to discover upon arriving that our wee boy had chicken pox. It rather curtailed our plans to go to the meetings that were on at the Keswick Convention. In the end I only managed along to one meeting and one seminar; Liam Goligher was preaching at the former, Chris Green at the latter.

I was supremely pleased in my fleeting experience of this year's convention to see and hear reports of a couple of instances on theological lines being drawn in the sand by, notably, Steve Brady and Liam Goligher. In what is in many ways a diverse congregation it always interests me how people will respond to the big questions facing the church in terms of how they understand the Bible. The temptation must be to soft-soap but I was pleased to see and hear that a clear stance was taken on recent debates to do with recent works on Galatians where it is suggested that there is potential for salvation through human works and religious practice and debate about the nature of the atonement (Christ's work on the cross) where it has been suggested that it is wrong to even consider it possible that a God of love would punish His Son in our place for our sin.

The Bible clearly teaches on the former that salvation is br grace alone and not by works so that none of us can boast, in fact more than that, none of us are capable of the sort of work that makes salvation possible such is our need of God, such is our indebtedness to Jesus for His work on the cross which brings us to the latter where the Bibilcal picture is of Father, Son and Spirit working in harmony on this rescue project.

All that said, it strikes me that today's liberal teachings become tomorrow's orthodoxy unless a clear line, such as provided by Liam Goligher and Steve Brady, is drawn.

A further interesting discussion between a pastor friend and I was whether there are different listening preferences according to nationality- in the converstaion my stated preference was for someone during the sermon to give me a kick up the bnackside because I know that I need it. This prompted by a reflection on the potential differences between the celtic ear and the saxon ear. My friend asked if there is a difference between what the celtic listener prefers to that which the listener from other parts of the Uk prefer. Particularly the question was asked whether the saxon listener is more appreciative of a couple of different styles whereas the celtic ear is generally appreciative of volume. The question of content and passion for scripture was a non-negotiable in both and the conversation was more how those things are worked out in regards to style and how we warm to particular preachers over others. It's all a bit early so i'll go and have a think some more and perhaps return to this, in the meantime if you want to chip in feel free.