THE INFINITY OF SCRIPTURE

Editorial
From the Newsletter of Revesby Presbyterian Church
September 2009
Rev Dr Peter Barnes

In his Lectures to My Students, Charles Spurgeon cites the early Church Father, Ambrose of Milan as saying: ‘I adore the infinity of Scripture.’ This is a splendid saying. In dealing with the love of …

HOW THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS FIT TOGETHER

Editorial
From the Newsletter of Revesby Presbyterian Church
August 2009
Rev Dr Peter Barnes

Many people in the Christian Church have wondered how the Old and New Testaments are to be connected. Partly this is because of the widespread teaching of the German liberal Protestants who had no idea how …

FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND A BILL OF RIGHTS

Editorial
From the Newsletter of Revesby Presbyterian Church
July 2009
Rev Dr Peter Barnes

The Bible tells us that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor.11:14). Therefore, when we hear of moves to press on with legislation in favour of anti- discrimination, freedom of religion, and a …

IMMORAL MORALISM

Editorial
From the Newsletter of Revesby Presbyterian Church
June 2009
Rev Dr Peter Barnes

The well-publicised rugby league scandal with regard to players involved in group sex has provided an insight into how modern secular Australia views issues of sexual morality. Almost all expressed some kind of outrage, either at …

IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCES

Editorial
From the Newsletter of Revesby Presbyterian Church
May 2009
Rev Dr Peter Barnes

From 1831 to 1836 Charles Darwin was involved in the voyage of the Beagle, which surveyed South America and the Pacific Ocean. This was a momentous voyage for Darwin himself. After the publication of his …

CORPORAL DISCIPLINE

Editorial
From the Newsletter of Revesby Presbyterian Church
April 2009
Rev Dr Peter Barnes

It is frightening that these days the case for non-abusive corporal discipline is invariably dismissed without much argument. So far as public policy is concerned, this has come about in just a few short decades. It …

HE IS ABLE

Editorial
From the Newsletter of Revesby Presbyterian Church
March 2009
Rev Dr Peter Barnes

On 25 October 1933 John Stam and Betty Scott were married in China where both of them were already serving as missionaries. On 11 September 1934 Betty gave birth to baby Helen Priscilla Stam, and one …

COMMEMORATING DARWIN

Editorial
From the Newsletter of Revesby Presbyterian Church
February 2009
Rev Dr Peter Barnes

One of the more ludicrous ecclesiastical efforts of 2008 came in September when the Church of England bishops apologised to Charles Darwin (1809-82). What Darwin made of this is unknown as he had been dead for …

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD, STANDING FIRM

Editorial
From the Newsletter of Revesby Presbyterian Church
January 2009
Rev Dr Peter Barnes

In Roman mythology, Janus was a two-headed god who looked backwards and forwards, and so was regarded as the god of gateways and doorways. He has given his name to our month January, which is a …

A HEALTHY DOSE OF REALISM

Editorial
From the Newsletter of Revesby Presbyterian Church
December 2008
Rev Dr Peter Barnes

Probably one of the most obvious of all Christian doctrines is that of original sin, that we human beings are, in C. S. Lewis’ terms, ‘the bent ones’. We are all born with something radically wrong …