I have a Masters of Divinity from Malyon College (affiliated with Australian College of Theology).
I have a Bachelors degree in Applied Science (majors in Chemistry and Forensics) from the Queensland University of Technology.
I am extremely interested in Apologetics, Christian World View and the Early Church and how these areas of study may be applied to bring glory to God. Address: Queensland, Australia
The arts and creative expression has been present in humanity from our very creation. It stems fr... more The arts and creative expression has been present in humanity from our very creation. It stems from the very nature of the one who created us, God. He was and is the prime artistic creator and imbued us with some of this creative ability. As such our creations can be utilised to bring Him glory or can be twisted by sin, but in all respects it is informed by the artist’s worldview. However, our stories are in a sense derivative of the true myth which God has told in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This is evident in looking at the Christian work The Lord of the Rings and the non-Christian/theistic work of Harry Potter it is possible to see the eucatastrophe in both, even if twisted slightly, that can point us to Christ.
In 1541 Calvin returned to Geneva after being exiled. On his return to the city it was recognised... more In 1541 Calvin returned to Geneva after being exiled. On his return to the city it was recognised that the Church needed to be put in order. So, the Ecclesiastical Ordinances were drafted by Calvin and the cities councillors. This document is the subject of this essays analysis. This analysis is done by examining the background to this document and the theology which informed its articles. This is followed by examining the document itself. In doing this it was found that the Ordinances were designed to establish order and discipline for those with authority in the Church. They also were to help foster order and discipline for the congregation, the city being transformed by the transformed lives of its citizens. The Church was ordered, the lives of the people were ordered and their duties to each other established. This was done in such a way that the vertical relationship with God would be nurtured, as well as the horizontal relationships within the Church body.
The goal of this essay is to introduce briefly four significant doctrine within Islamic theology—... more The goal of this essay is to introduce briefly four significant doctrine within Islamic theology—the Qur’an, the Sunnah and Hadith, the five pillar and the Islamic Jesus. Each of these doctrines are foundation to key assertions made with Islam and they also orient the focus of the Muslims life. The Qur’an is the very words of Allah are infallible and the ultimate authority for life and law. The Sunnah and Hadith provide the modern Islamic community with a gateway straight back to Muhammad’s teachings and practices. Thus they provide a rule of faith by which the community can live. The five pillars are five practices within Islam that are supposed to refocus the individual and community on Allah. Finally the Islamic Jesus is a corrective to the excesses of Christian theology, restoring his true message of submission to Allah. This are some of the foundational distinctive of Islamic theology and are doctrine dividing lines between Christians and Muslims.
This essay seeks to exegete the text of Romans 1:16-17 by looking at the Greek text and grammar. ... more This essay seeks to exegete the text of Romans 1:16-17 by looking at the Greek text and grammar. By examining what Scripture is telling us here and the various ways people have understood it we are able to come to a greater appreciation for what Paul was telling the Roman church. Particularly with the more obscure sections in v17 regarding dikaiosuvnh ga;r qeou: and ejk pivstewV eijV pivstin. Through looking at Scripture in such depth we can learn a lot. We should not be ashamed of the gospel as it is the proclamation of the saving work of God achieved through Jesus Christ on the cross. It is the power of God for salvation, not just present physical healing but also eschatologically for those who believe it and is offered to all regardless of ethnicity or class. Gods’ attribute of righteousness is displayed in the gospel. This righteousness is the reason for the cross so that God can be revealed to be both just with regards to sin and justifier of His people. Righteousness displayed in the faith from the likes of Abraham to Rahab. This faith, through the grace and power of God, gives those who believe a position righteousness before God and thus will live with a present and eschatological hope. Because of all of this, we should not be ashamed of the gospel in witness within the secular spheres that we operate or in our preaching at church. Stunts and gimmicks in order to ‘make believers’ is not necessary, for they do not contain the power of God for salvation.
In the wake of the Reformation in Europe a number of Christian doctrines were being reinterpreted... more In the wake of the Reformation in Europe a number of Christian doctrines were being reinterpreted. This included the Eucharist. The ‘traditional’ and ‘orthodox’ Roman Catholic view of the Eucharist was being challenged. The Roman view was that of transubstantiation; that the bread and wine truly become the flesh and blood and Jesus. On this edifice rested a number of other doctrines. These included the justification that only the bread needed to be given to the congregation. That the Eucharist was a propitiatory sacrifice which effected grace for the one who partakes. Finally, the Roman Church held that the elements of the Eucharist, being truly Christ, deserved reverence and even worship. In their zeal to differentiate themselves from Rome, and return to true doctrine, the Reformers developed their own understandings of the Eucharist. Luther held to consubstantiation, that Christ was present under the form of bread and wine. Zwingli held to a ‘Memorial’ understanding, where the bread and wine are symbols that point to the objective work of Christ on the Cross, with Jesus being spiritually present. Calvin held to the ‘Real Presence’ of Christ of in the Eucharist. That is Holy Spirit communicates the presence of Christ to the faithful. However, in their efforts to understand the Eucharist the Reformers forgot that they were united in Christ and against Rome. Forgetting where the true dividing lines are.
The arts and creative expression has been present in humanity from our very creation. It stems fr... more The arts and creative expression has been present in humanity from our very creation. It stems from the very nature of the one who created us, God. He was and is the prime artistic creator and imbued us with some of this creative ability. As such our creations can be utilised to bring Him glory or can be twisted by sin, but in all respects it is informed by the artist’s worldview. However, our stories are in a sense derivative of the true myth which God has told in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This is evident in looking at the Christian work The Lord of the Rings and the non-Christian/theistic work of Harry Potter it is possible to see the eucatastrophe in both, even if twisted slightly, that can point us to Christ.
In 1541 Calvin returned to Geneva after being exiled. On his return to the city it was recognised... more In 1541 Calvin returned to Geneva after being exiled. On his return to the city it was recognised that the Church needed to be put in order. So, the Ecclesiastical Ordinances were drafted by Calvin and the cities councillors. This document is the subject of this essays analysis. This analysis is done by examining the background to this document and the theology which informed its articles. This is followed by examining the document itself. In doing this it was found that the Ordinances were designed to establish order and discipline for those with authority in the Church. They also were to help foster order and discipline for the congregation, the city being transformed by the transformed lives of its citizens. The Church was ordered, the lives of the people were ordered and their duties to each other established. This was done in such a way that the vertical relationship with God would be nurtured, as well as the horizontal relationships within the Church body.
The goal of this essay is to introduce briefly four significant doctrine within Islamic theology—... more The goal of this essay is to introduce briefly four significant doctrine within Islamic theology—the Qur’an, the Sunnah and Hadith, the five pillar and the Islamic Jesus. Each of these doctrines are foundation to key assertions made with Islam and they also orient the focus of the Muslims life. The Qur’an is the very words of Allah are infallible and the ultimate authority for life and law. The Sunnah and Hadith provide the modern Islamic community with a gateway straight back to Muhammad’s teachings and practices. Thus they provide a rule of faith by which the community can live. The five pillars are five practices within Islam that are supposed to refocus the individual and community on Allah. Finally the Islamic Jesus is a corrective to the excesses of Christian theology, restoring his true message of submission to Allah. This are some of the foundational distinctive of Islamic theology and are doctrine dividing lines between Christians and Muslims.
This essay seeks to exegete the text of Romans 1:16-17 by looking at the Greek text and grammar. ... more This essay seeks to exegete the text of Romans 1:16-17 by looking at the Greek text and grammar. By examining what Scripture is telling us here and the various ways people have understood it we are able to come to a greater appreciation for what Paul was telling the Roman church. Particularly with the more obscure sections in v17 regarding dikaiosuvnh ga;r qeou: and ejk pivstewV eijV pivstin. Through looking at Scripture in such depth we can learn a lot. We should not be ashamed of the gospel as it is the proclamation of the saving work of God achieved through Jesus Christ on the cross. It is the power of God for salvation, not just present physical healing but also eschatologically for those who believe it and is offered to all regardless of ethnicity or class. Gods’ attribute of righteousness is displayed in the gospel. This righteousness is the reason for the cross so that God can be revealed to be both just with regards to sin and justifier of His people. Righteousness displayed in the faith from the likes of Abraham to Rahab. This faith, through the grace and power of God, gives those who believe a position righteousness before God and thus will live with a present and eschatological hope. Because of all of this, we should not be ashamed of the gospel in witness within the secular spheres that we operate or in our preaching at church. Stunts and gimmicks in order to ‘make believers’ is not necessary, for they do not contain the power of God for salvation.
In the wake of the Reformation in Europe a number of Christian doctrines were being reinterpreted... more In the wake of the Reformation in Europe a number of Christian doctrines were being reinterpreted. This included the Eucharist. The ‘traditional’ and ‘orthodox’ Roman Catholic view of the Eucharist was being challenged. The Roman view was that of transubstantiation; that the bread and wine truly become the flesh and blood and Jesus. On this edifice rested a number of other doctrines. These included the justification that only the bread needed to be given to the congregation. That the Eucharist was a propitiatory sacrifice which effected grace for the one who partakes. Finally, the Roman Church held that the elements of the Eucharist, being truly Christ, deserved reverence and even worship. In their zeal to differentiate themselves from Rome, and return to true doctrine, the Reformers developed their own understandings of the Eucharist. Luther held to consubstantiation, that Christ was present under the form of bread and wine. Zwingli held to a ‘Memorial’ understanding, where the bread and wine are symbols that point to the objective work of Christ on the Cross, with Jesus being spiritually present. Calvin held to the ‘Real Presence’ of Christ of in the Eucharist. That is Holy Spirit communicates the presence of Christ to the faithful. However, in their efforts to understand the Eucharist the Reformers forgot that they were united in Christ and against Rome. Forgetting where the true dividing lines are.
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