A Stark Choice – Movement or Not

Posted on by Dr. Martin J. Bragger

Early Christianity was a Movement that took on and conquered the all-powerful Roman Empire. Roman society was Pagan, largely amoral and pluralistic, everything the Christian world view was not, as well as being actively hostile to Christianity and Christians who were seen as ‘weird and depraved killjoys’. This hostility resulted in persecution, sometimes severe particularly in the reigns of Emperors Nero and Diocletian Nevertheless, by the early 4th century AD, Rome was, at least officially, a Christian Empire. So how did the Roman Empire go from being thoroughly pagan to Christianity becoming the state religion?

Western Values and When ‘The Main Thing’ Isn’t

Posted on by Dr. Martin J. Bragger

There seems to be a general ignorance of, or a deliberate unwillingness to accept, that the lamented loss of ‘Western values’ is the result of the decline of Christianity and the corresponding loss of the biblical moral operating system essential to the control of western democracy. Thus, and here is the key issue, the restoration of a biblically controlled democracy and the values flowing from it, requires the re-evangelization of Australia.

Principles – A Case Study

Posted on by Dr. Martin J. Bragger

The cultural principle needed for our 21st century mission to local communities can be summed up with this slogan – ‘Their place, Their style, Their language, Their time’

Easter and the Naked Emperor

Posted on by Dr. Martin J. Bragger

As we celebrate receiving the benefits of the exquisite love-borne agony of the Cross, we should remember that the reception of that gift requires signing up as a ‘Soldier of Christ’, and soldiers must fight!

Christianity Without the King

Posted on by Dr. Martin J. Bragger

To rebuild western civilization we need to go back to what made western civilization such a powerful force for good and prosperity and that is the Judeo-Christian world view. This is complex as many want the values without the Saviour.’

The Road to Heaven is Strewn with Missional Roadblocks

Posted on by Dr. Martin J. Bragger

The Road to Heaven is Strewn with Missional Roadblocks

Collapse – We’ve Seen this Movie Before

Posted on by Dr. Martin J. Bragger

‘The former long-serving Australian foreign minister, Alexander Downer, recently asked a very important question. ‘Could western civilization finally collapse?’ What would be your answer to that question I wonder?

Common Illusions and the Sound of the Cuckoo

Posted on by Dr. Martin J. Bragger

In this time of catastrophic and ongoing decline in Christianity in Australia, and the western world generally, simplistic assessments of church vitality will only compound our missional failure. What is actually needed is a forensic critical analysis of churches and the reasons for their long-term failure to make Disciples of Jesus in anything like the numbers required if there is to be any hope of reversing chronic trends of decline

Vacuum 3 – The Darkness Falls

Posted on by Dr. Martin J. Bragger

The sun’s rim dips, the stars rush out,             At one stride comes the dark’

Vacuum 2 – Compassion

Posted on by Dr. Martin J. Bragger

The retreat of Christianity in western countries has left a Vacuum, that has been filled with a whole range of fundamentally demonic influences that are tearing the fabric of society. While it is a spiritual vacuum, there are material consequences. One of these is the loss of the God-reflecting exercise of Compassion flowing from a deep emotional concern for the needy, whether spiritually or materially, even enemies.