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?

Christianity-Lite and the Death of Mission

Posted on by Dr. Martin J. Bragger

"C.T.'s life stands as some rugged Gibraltar — a sign to all succeeding generations that it is worthwhile to lose all this world can offer and stake everything on the world to come. (C.T.’s) life will be an eternal rebuke to easygoing Christianity. He has demonstrated what it means to follow Christ without counting the cost and without looking back.”

The Biggest Elephant – Challenges Yes – Excuses No

Posted on by Dr. Martin J. Bragger

“It’s more missionaries we need, without more missionaries we will lose”                                       ****** In my previous post on the ‘Biggest Elephant’ topic I mentioned a number of characteristics of the Australian church (discussed more fully in the 'Something Completely Different' booklet) which are to various degrees causative factors in the Church’s chronic lack of missional … Continue reading The Biggest Elephant – Challenges Yes – Excuses No

Christianity-Lite A Deadly Poison

Posted on by Dr. Martin J. Bragger

Among the offerings in the ‘spiritual supermarket’ that is Australia today there can be found this very attractive and popular package called ‘Christianity-Lite’ (C.L.). A characteristic of this belief system or ‘faith’ is that it is an ‘easy’ faith, a ‘comfortable’ faith where the spiritual journey is smooth and not too stressful; one into which … Continue reading Christianity-Lite A Deadly Poison