Bible and Mission

In our day, care for the elderly is an ethical issue that looms large for families and for the church.  The ‘marvels of modern medicine’ are keeping people alive considerably longer.  Elderly diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, are rising as well because people die later.  At the same time, in many countries, families are more disjointed than ever due to the significantly higher number of divorces.  Most countries have seen a steady decline in natural population due to birth rates dropping.  Also, contemporary society is ‘on the move,’ and families are often split up because children move far away or parents retire in far-away places.  In the West, the culture of individualism leads many parents to value not being a burden to their families in their old age.  Some countries have debated assisted suicide for the elderly.   Medical care and elderly care have, over the years, increasingly become the responsibility of the state.  Consequently, the s...

  Introduction   After decades of the exclusion of religion—Christianity in particular—from the classroom in American education, the Oklahoma State Superintendent called for schools to incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments in their curricula. [1]   This return to an earlier approach in education in America follows an increasing concern that children should be taught values—Christian values in particular.  Christian religion is privileged in the curriculum.  Can such a ruling stand opposition from those denouncing Christianity in the culture on the grounds that the government shall not establish any religion?  One might think that the argument stands on stronger grounds in England, where there is an established religion, the Church of England.  However, the English are in general even more secular than the Americans, and the Church of England is uncertain of its faith at best and undermining its historic teaching on key theological and moral ...