Planted by Water

Apologies for my absence but I am taking the family away on holiday tomorrow and there was quite a lot of stuff to get done ahead of leaving. We are off to the Llyn peninsula (pictured) for a week in a rather nice caravan at a renovated farm with swimming pool etc. Looking forward to a great opportunity to relax, spend time with the family, swim, sleep and read (not all at the same time!!) If you like the sound of it and would like a relaxing holiday in a beautiful part of North Wales near the Snowdonia National Park, see here

I will be back blogging on Monday 24th April and I am rather excited by the blogging conversation I have been having with Peter Paine (see here). Like many of my readers, I am sure, I believe that the Kingdom of God is meant to influence and transform our world. Apologies to my theonomist friends, but I think the whole thing of trying to do this by applying the Mosaic Law directly (moral or civil) is misguided and a non-starter. I am convinced that insights into how we influence society lie not with an understanding of the Law, but with an understanding of the Kingdom - particularly its spiritual nature and its progressive realisation. So when I get back I am hoping to start a conversation about that. I would love it if readers could raise questions and make suggestions.

We believe in the restoration of all things. We believe in God’s glory filling the earth. And that the Church is the agency for the advance of the Kingdom. As well as preaching about that in generalities, let’s start thinking about how that happens in particulars. How far should we expect society to change before Jesus’ coming and in what ways? Should we and, if so, how can we, influence social policy and legislation? How do we deal with being a minority in a democratic society? Should we and can we impose our views? How do we handle the difference between influence and imposition? How do we handle it when Christians disagree about political, social and ethical matters? And many more questions? I am really looking forward to getting into this when I get back from ny holiday - I hope others are up for it!