The Whitehouse Church Podcast

Too often the church and groups of believers seem to live in fear. Fear of immigrants, or the queer community, fear of their freedoms being curtailed, fear of oppression, fear of women in leadership, fear of ecumenical partnership, of other religions or relativism. Honestly, the church has far too often been a loud voice of fear in the community instead of lending their voice to those who are oppr...

Followers of Jesus should be equally grieved by the deaths of Israelis and Palestinians. And, despite what some sensationalist Christian commentators say, being appalled by the internationally sponsored mistreatment of Palestinians doesn’t make someone an antisemite or a supporter of heinous acts committed by terrorists. As Christians we should be promoting Jesus’ way of non-violence and peace, ev...

Father, hallowed be your name, make your name holyand remember your promises to restore your reputation. Gather us as your people, make us clean, give us new hearts of flesh not stone, put your Spirit in us, empower us to follow your decrees, restore your kingdom and make it like the garden of Eden. Right now, today, we are so grateful for your provision. Please meet all our needs and help us to t...

The place that Mary found was more important than any worry, frustration, or cultural obligation. The place Mary found in the midst of all the work, all the mess, and all the expectation, was sacred. And it wasn’t just Mary; it was Jesus also. He wanted her to be there. And I want to be there too but there is just so much noise and hurry and worry. The deadlines, the mortgage, the kids, the mess,...

Before we get to the question of, “Who is my neighbour?” it is worth considering a modern retelling of this story. In our context it is hard to appreciate the disdain that the Jewish people felt towards the Samaritan people. Perhaps imagine this scene taking place in modern day Israel, with a devout Hasidic Jew questioning a rabbi, and in response the rabbi tells a story of a Jewish Priest and a C...

Jesus isn’t complicit with boundaries defined by race, religion, borders, politics, culture, wealth, gender, or status. He sends out his messengers into Samaria to prepare the way because the people of Samaria are made in the image of God just as truly as the people in Judea. Just as today the people in Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran are made in the image of God as surely as those in Israel, America, or...

The reformers and radical reformers challenged the status quo, not with something new, but instead with something old! They fulfilled the prophetic tradition by pointing back to the testimony of Jesus in their time.

Whilst a political party may have unity of ideology, and even churches can have a shared creed, the kingdom of God calls us to share in a oneness that is displayed not by a doctrinal statement but rather by our love for one another.

When it came to following the rules, Jesus repeatedly upset the religious leaders. Jesus was prepared to bend the rules (as the Pharisees defined them) to honour his principles. And sometimes we must also bend the rules to honour the principles of the kingdom of God.

In these last quiet moments with his friends, this was the message that Jesus felt was most important. Not a theological statement or a creed. Not a four-step program or a salvation prayer. Instead he gave them a new command: The measure of their faithfulness would be their love for one another.

Peter denies knowing Jesus before the crucifixion. And then after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to Mary, and then to the disciples in the upper room, and then he appeared a second time and spoke with Thomas. But Peter is not mentioned. John even records Peter narrowly missing Jesus in the garden before he appeared to Mary, but Peter never gets closure. Thankfully, the gospel of John has an epil...

It must be rough being a person who is only known because of a single defining event or trait, or worse, a singular mistake or failure in their lives. Poor old Thomas is like this.

The portrait of God in the flesh being crucified is the great scandal of Easter. Jesus isn’t like the pagan god’s of the ancient world, or the violent caricature of God as believed by the Jews. Jesus is God and he humbles himself and in his death reconciles the whole world.

When the son is still a long way off, the father is waiting and watching for him. This is the only time in scripture that I can see an image of God in a hurry, he runs to embrace his lost son. But all the son can think about is his sin. He is terrified that his sin will stop him from being welcomed. He is desperate to talk about his sin and the father simply doesn’t care! His lost son has been fou...

I do not see God the same way that Calvinists see God. If you believe God’s righteousness is manifest in a wrath that demands violent retribution in order to be satisfied, then the Calvinist interpretation of this passage can make sense, even if it is abhorrent. Just as the proverbial hammer sees everything as a nail, the Calvinist certainty regarding the wrathful nature of God forces them to sacr...

When malice and violence are directed at Jesus, he doesn’t rally his followers to violence, instead he laments and likens himself to a mother hen longing to draw her chicks under her protective wings. It is a brooding hen rather than an imperial eagle that Jesus identifies with.

Our picture of God must be shaped by our understanding of Jesus. He is the only true perfect representation of the father, and he is the lens through which we must interpret all Scripture and revelation (Heb 1:1-3). His teaching and example are superior to all others, and when we are faced with complex theological and moral conundrums the sensitivity, graciousness, and kindness of Jesus must be ou...

In a world that generally says you can do whatever you want so long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, Jesus goes further by teaching his disciples to actively initiate actions that will benefit others. In this way Jesus’ teaching is unique. The love of God is an active love. This is a key distinction between simply being a good person and being like Christ. It is relatively simple to lead a life that doe...

The gospels make no secret of Jesus’ concern for the least and the little. His compassion for the outcasts, pariahs and unpopular; his disposition towards the socially unimportant, those deemed sinners, the poor, sick and excluded. The Scriptures labour over Jesus’ love for these people, recording at length the stories where he interacts with the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, th...

The Anabaptists refused violence, promoted local faith communities, rejected the excesses of wealth and cared for the poor, maintained the distinctiveness of the kingdom of God from the kingdoms of the world, and recognised the centrality of Jesus’ ethical teaching and practices for the faithful. I am not an Anabaptist in a strict sense as I have not historic or genealogical connection to the move...

Jesus proclaimed the prophetic message of Isaiah at his own inauguration, just as the prophets of our day bravely rebuke those in power, calling for grace and love rather than judgment and wrath.   The kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed was so scandalously gracious the Jews responded with violence. Jesus’ good news was for all the people they hated, all the wrong people. They wanted him to die f...

Oddly the miracle at the Wedding of Cana wasn’t a healing, it was keeping the party going. Jesus revealed his glory by turning water into wine. Food and drink and joyful celebration are central to the expression of Christian faith. This year let’s eat more, drink more, and celebrate more!

He isn’t avoiding us; he isn’t disgusted by us. He isn’t enraged or vengeful. He wants to be near us. All the way from precreation glory in heaven he has pursued us. As a babe born in a manger, he has pursued us. Through a sinless life and unto a cross in our place he has pursued us. And out of the grave he has pursued us. Not God above us. God with us!

When the birth pains begin. Do not be afraid. Even though everything around you looks out of control, even though there will be horrors and haters and hell on earth; know that it is not without an end. A struggle is underway, but the birth of a new kingdom is a certainty. Jesus’ ministry was defined by his promise that God’s space and our space would one day overlap again. The kingdom of God is ne...

Jesus is appalled how the teachers of the law flaunt their wealth whilst devouring the houses of the widows. The use of manipulation to cajole and bully people to give, specially those with so little, is an affront to God.