Category Archives: The Church

A Remark on Creedally-Defined Orthodoxy

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Alastair Roberts

The question of the definition of orthodoxy has been a live one, since James K.A. Smith posted on the subject in relation to debates surrounding sexuality. The following is a remark on the question of ‘orthodoxy’ as defined creedally. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Church History, Controversies, Ethics, Scripture, Sex and Sexuality, The Church, Theological | 26 Comments

People of the Promise—A New Book From the Davenant Institute

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Alastair Roberts

The Davenant Institute (the name has just been changed from the Davenant Trust) has a forthcoming book on the subject of Protestant ecclesiology, to which I have contributed an article on the ecclesiology of Pentecost. There are several other superb … Continue reading →

Posted in Church History, The Church, Theological | 4 Comments

The Politics of the Stumbling Stone

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Alastair Roberts

Earlier today a reflection of mine on the subject of 1 Peter 2:2-10 was published over on Political Theology Today. In three interwoven scriptural allusions, 1 Peter 2:4-10 presents us with a striking image. While undertaking a great construction project, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Peter, Bible, Ethics, NT, NT Theology, Politics, The Church, Theological | 17 Comments

Podcast: The Benedict Option, with Rod Dreher

Posted on April 26, 2017 by Alastair Roberts

Our last episode of Mere Fidelity for a few months is devoted to a discussion of the book of the hour, The Benedict Option, with its author, Rod Dreher. We explore the questions of how the Church should relate to society in … Continue reading →

Posted in Church History, Controversies, Culture, Ethics, My Reading, Podcasts, Politics, Society, The Church, Theological, What I'm Reading | 1 Comment

Podcast: On Lent, with Steven Wedgeworth

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Alastair Roberts

This week on Mere Fidelity, Derek, Matt, and I are joined by our friend Steven Wedgeworth for a discussion of the subject of Lent, developing out of a Twitter discussion for which Keith Miller is responsible. Should we celebrate Lent? … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Experience, Church History, Controversies, Culture, Liturgical Theology, Podcasts, Prayer, The Church, Theological, Worship | 2 Comments

The Politics of the Blessing of Abram

Posted on March 6, 2017 by Alastair Roberts

I have just posted over on Political Theology Today, on the subject of the call and blessing of Abram in Genesis 12:1-4a: In the call of Abram and the outworking of the blessing upon him and covenant with him, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Genesis, Guest Post, OT, OT Theology, Politics, The Church, Theological | 1 Comment

Pentecost as Ecclesiology

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

There is an article of mine in the latest edition of Ad Fontes, in which I argue that Luke’s account of the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 offers us an ecclesiology in nuce. You can subscribe to the digital … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Bible, Exodus, Genesis, Guest Post, NT, NT Theology, Numbers, OT, OT Theology, The Church, Theological | 2 Comments

Podcast: Richard Hooker

Posted on November 16, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

For some time I’ve wanted to discuss Richard Hooker on the podcast, not least because we seldom speak about the continuing importance of figures from church history on Mere Fidelity. This week, while the other crew members were away, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Church History, Controversies, Culture, Ethics, Podcasts, Politics, Scripture, Society, The Church, Theological | 1 Comment

Lessons from the Collapse of American Protestantism

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

I’ve written a piece for The Gospel Coalition on the collapse of American Protestantism and what we should be braced for in the future. It’s also noteworthy that almost all the Christian intellectuals Jacobs discusses, whether historic or contemporary, belonged … Continue reading →

Posted in Church History, Culture, Guest Post, Politics, The Church | 6 Comments

The Social Crisis of Distrust and Untruth in America and Evangelicalism

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

In the second of the Republican presidential debates, the issue of vaccines was raised. Donald Trump presented an anecdotal case for an association between vaccines and autism, brashly dismissing the general medical consensus on the matter. Repeating claims he had … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversies, Culture, Ethics, Politics, Sex and Sexuality, Society, The Church, Theological | 42 Comments