freedom | Psephizo

The conversion practices draft bill: right and helpful or fatally flawed?

July 2, 2026 by Ian Paul

Mark Bratton writes: The long-awaited draft Bill on conversion practices (‘the draft’), recently released for pre-legislative parliamentary review, is fundamentally flawed. According to the Preamble, the draft aims, among other goals, to establish new offences related to abusive conversion practices on individuals. However, rather than preventing abuse, the draft risks reinforcing harmful conversion practices, particularly … Continue Reading

Baptised into new life in Christ in Romans 6 video discussion

June 15, 2026 by Ian Paul

In Romans 6, Paul uses the actions of baptism (going down into the waters of death, coming up to breathe the air of new life) to explain our new status in resurrection life. Underlying this is Paul’s eschatology—when we are in Christ, we begin to live the new life of the age to come. This … Continue Reading

Why is the Exodus important for the New Testament?

December 1, 2025November 26, 2025 by Ian Paul

I write a quarterly column for Preach magazine, in which I explore a significant word, phrase, or idea in the Bible, or a theme or section of Scripture, and the ideas that it expresses. At the end of this piece I list the previous articles I have written for them. Here I explore the importance … Continue Reading

Reconciliation and fellowship in Philemon video discussion

September 2, 2025September 1, 2025 by Ian Paul

The epistle for Trinity 12 in Year C is Paul’s letter to Philemon about his runaway slave Onesimus. Why is this letter so interesting? What is the significance of it being a public rather than private letter? What rhetorical strategy does Paul use to make his point? And how do the ideas of reconciliation and … Continue Reading

Freedom, flesh, and the Spirit in Galatians 5

June 27, 2025June 23, 2025 by Ian Paul

The lectionary readings for Trinity 2 in Year C are Galatians 5.1, 13-25 Luke 9.51-end. In Galatians 5, Paul explores the meaning of freedom in Christ. This is not freedom to indulge the desires of our sinful human nature (the ‘flesh’) but the freedom to fulfill the law in obedience to God by the power … Continue Reading

What is the meaning of Sabbath?

August 3, 2023July 26, 2023 by Ian Paul

I write a quarterly column for Preach magazine, in which I explore a significant word or phrase in the Bible, or a theme or section of Scripture, and the ideas that it expresses. I have written for them on: the phrase ‘Word of God’ the theme of ‘Mission’ the meaning of ‘Apocalypse‘ the ministry of ‘Healing’, … Continue Reading

What is a Christian response to surveillance capitalism?

August 22, 2022August 19, 2022 by Ian Paul

Mark Ireland has just written a fascinating Grove booklet on Surveillance Capitalism and the Loving Gaze of God. He begins by noting both the positive and the negative aspects of the internet, both for living and for Christian discipleship and ministry. I love technology—the connectedness, the ready flow of information and ideas. When I was growing up, … Continue Reading

Can young people be freed from social stereotypes?

May 31, 2017May 26, 2017 by Ian Paul

Is it possible to work with children and young people and allow them to fill their potential in Christ rather than fall into the strong gender stereotypes into which they are pressed by social norms? That is the pressing question addressed in the latest Grove booklet in the Youth series by Natalie Collins. It begins by … Continue Reading

Does religious freedom require a secular public sphere?

June 17, 2020August 23, 2016 by Ian Paul

Will Jones writes: Findings from the 2015 annual British Social Attitudes survey published this month sent secularists into a mild panic. Showing an increase in those identifying as Christian, from 42% to 43%, and a corresponding decrease in those of ’no religion’, from 49% to 48%, they seemed to confirm that the steady decline in … Continue Reading

Making sense of the Paris killings?

November 26, 2015November 18, 2015 by Ian Paul

Even a few days on, it is hard to take in the horror of the Paris killings, and experience of those affected and their families. There are still those who do not know whether their relatives are alive and wounded or dead. But it hasn’t taken long for a whole series of questions to be … Continue Reading

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