Opinions expressed in these blogs are the views of the author, not necessarily those of the Presbyterian Church in NSW or of the Gospel, Society, and Culture Committee.
My groans are many and my heart is faint
SANDY MCMILLAN* laments our loss of the ability to lament.In the very early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sydney, when the main talking point was panic buying, I was in the empty toilet roll aisle of the local supermarket, when I heard a woman asking a shelf...
Nation’s culture the key to why we are Covid-anxious
LEWIS JONES* considers whether aspects of our socio-cultural formation play a part in the psychological impact of this ongoing Covid crisis. About two weeks into our COVID-19 timeline in Australia, typically taken as time since the 100th confirmed case,...
Needle-phobia and loving your neighbour
BEN GREIG* lives in regional NSW and has a fear of needles. He explains why overcoming his fear was important. I have a not-so-well-kept secret. I have a bit of a phobia of needles (trypanophobia). Even the mention of the things gives me an uncomfortable shiver down...
Covid, fate, fatalism, and confidence in Christ
Lewis Jones’s blogs about Covid’s impact on the way we think about the future, prompted KARINE WOLDHUIS* to reflect on her time in Ecuador, where discussions about plans often ended with “God willing”. Fatalistic or realistic? Read on One of the strange things I had...
The Covid information inundation
In the first of two blogs, LEWIS JONES* looks at how Covid has distorted our sense of time and space - but he offers a path to recovery. At 7:07pm on the 26th of June 2021, it seemed like a good thing that you had booked a rental cabin where you were going to stay...
Wanted: Christian tree changers. Apply now
For some, there has been no impetus quite like a pandemic and sky-rocketing urban housing prices, to consider a tree change. In this blog AMY BUTLER* praises the merits, and ministry opportunities, of rural living. This Covid pandemic has made people consider a...
Twists, turns and a long road to Covid recovery – new G,S&C series
In the first part of a new series on the impact of Covid-19 and variants, NALINI PATHER* says we must prepare for a long journey - and we should lean on our Gospel hope The third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the Delta variant of the virus is sweeping across...
The image of God and caring for others
In part 2 of this new series on Covid-19, NALINI PATHER gives insights into how in light of the pandemic Christians can demonstrate God's love.In the previous post, we discussed how recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and all its variants is going to take a long...
God frames our response to the pandemic
In part three of the new series, NALINI PATHER shows us how Jesus frames a response to the Covid-19 pandemic This COVID-19 pandemic has shattered the illusion that humans are in control of the universe. In our secular society, we are accustomed to look to science and...
The gospel of the risen Christ is our hope – pandemic or not
In the 4th of a series on Covid-19, NALINI PATHER focuses on Jesus, who gives us comfort and courage In our previous blog we highlighted that God is sovereign in all, and over all. The Gospel literally means ‘good news’ from the sovereign God. This good news is...
Coping with anxiety and fear
Anxiety and fear will be common reactions as cases of Covid-19 increase in coming days and weeks. This Gospel, Society and Culture article describes how our brains respond to crises and strategies to care for ourselves and others.
The common good: How should we then live?
Our world is working out how to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. As we restrict our contact with one another, in order to stop the spread of the virus, what does it mean for Christians to seek the “common good” in our world? Our Committee Convener, John McClean,...
Soul vaccination: We all need a different type of ‘jab’
AMY BUTLER* recalls a 1970's song with a message for today. In the 1970s a funk fusion band called the Tower of Power released a song called Soul Vaccination. It’s a much ado about nothing song. Its purpose is not in lyrical profundity, rather it executes the...
COVID-19: The big questions answered
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength ... Love your neighbor as yourself. As the world reeled from the impact of COVID-19, scientists around the world began searching for a vaccine. The...
COVID-19: HELP IS AT HAND
8 CHALLENGES - 8 RESOURCES COVID-19 has triggered a series of challenges for all of us. Biblical counsellor JEREMY WARD has produced a series of resources aimed at helping Christians navigate these extraordinary times. Each resource includes a short video and two-page...
SHOULD WE OBJECT TO AND BOYCOTT VACCINES CREATED USING TISSUE FROM ABORTED FETUSES?
PART 4 in a series of blogs navigating the issues around vaccinations. In late August this year, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, and Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Australia raised ethical concerns about the origin of a potential...
VACCINES: INFORMED CONSENT, MANDATES AND EXPLOITATION
Blog 6 in a series of blogs navigating the issues around vaccinationsSignificant good has come from vaccine development, as we've seen in previous posts in this series. Christians should be advocates for development that is ethical and without moral compromise. Most...
VACCINATIONS: HEALTH DISPARITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
PART 5 in a series of blogs navigating the issues around vaccinations.All around the world - in countries with both high and low incomes - we’ve seen significant progress in health care, quality of life and life expectancy. Vaccines have played a substantial part in...
VACCINES: IS THERE A PROBLEM?
PART 3 in a series of blogs navigating the issues around vaccinations.Over the last few decades, more and more people around the world have become nervous about vaccinations. In her recent book Stuck: How Vaccine Rumors Start—and Why They Don’t Go Away (Oxford...
INNATE MECHANISM OF IMMUNITY, HISTORY OF VACCINES AND COMMON GRACE
Part 2 in a series of 6 blogs navigating the issues around vaccinationsHuman bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made, the truly awesome handiwork of our sovereign creator God. They are beautiful in their complexity and design. Of all the ‘systems’ in the human body,...