Irreverend: Faith and Current Affairs

Church of England revs Tom and Jamie sit down to talk about the big events of the day. We review the worrying level of vitriol that is being directed towards the unvaccinated in the media and look at a recent argument made by The Gospel Coalition that vaccine passports should be allowed in churches. In a more edifying section, we read about the story of St Charles Borromeo, whose response to the late sixteenth century plague in Milan was quite different to that of our church leaders today. We also talk about a recent article by Carl Trueman and Alexandra Desanctis, which argues that the right to abort one's children is a denial of the humanity of women. Our email of the week deals with the question of tithing and the role that money plays in the life of a believer.Our Scripture this week is taken from Romans 13:1-7, through which we consider the relationship and obligations of the individual believer to the state.Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comLinks:GCSE media studies to cover Rashford's food campaign'Anti-vaxxers want to kill your babies, stage a coup and cause another lockdown'The Gospel Coalition Argues For Vaccine Passports To Attend ChurchSaint Charles Borromeo's Courageous Response to the Plague Are Women Still Human? Support the show

In this special episode, Rev Jamie Franklin sits down with Director of Brephos Ministries, Dave Brennan. Brephos is a ministry that helps Christians and churches to think through the issue of abortion and related challenges. In this conversation, Jamie and Dave discuss the Covid-19 vaccines specifically with regards to the use of human embryonic tissue in their development and testing. What has the Church's response been to the fact of the use of this aborted foetal tissue? How should a Christian respond to these facts? And what can the current response tell us about the spiritual health of the Church and our nation? For Dave's ministry, please see: https://www.brephos.orgNotices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

Church of England vicars Daniel and Jamie sit down to talk about: totalitarianism in Scripture and in our world today; the Covid vaccinations being approved for 12-15 year-olds by Chris Whitty; recent confusion over vaccine passports; and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Pope and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's recent foray into world events, 'A Joint Message for the Protection of Creation'.Our Scripture this week is taken from Daniel 3, the incident of the fiery furnace.Daniel's three book recommendations are: Rowan Williams, Looking East in Winter; Michael Ward, After Humanity; and Sohrab Ahmari, The Unbroken Thread: Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in an Age of Chaos.Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comLinks:Get your children vaccinated against Covid, parents are told Johnson confused about vaccine passportsWelby, Francis and Bartholomew statement on climate changeSupport the show

Church of England vicars Tom and Jamie sit down to talk about the week's news, including: Sajid Javid says that parental consent will not be needed for the jab rollout for 12-15s after the decision on the jabs was re-delegated to the Chief Medical Officer because the JCVI did not recommend it; the government denies that there will be a lockdown this October, despite somebody leaking the possibility of one to the press; the Texas abortion "heartbeat" law that makes illegal any abortion that takes place in the state of Texas after six weeks; and the exciting news that Jeff Bezos is funding an anti-ageing startup in the hope of finding the key to eternal life.Our Scripture this week is taken from Luke 12:15-21, the Parable of the Rich Fool.Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comLinks:12-15 year olds to get final say on the jabUK Medical Freedom Alliance open letter to headteachers on vaccinationOctober LockdownJeff Bezos funds anti-ageing startupIncrementalism and the Texas Abortion Law, Doug Wilson Support the show

Revs Daniel and Tom are away this week, so this is Rev Jamie with a quick update on a few things and some thoughts on the recent Terence Malick film A Hidden Life.If you'd like something to listen to in lieu of the pod this week, have a look at Jamie's recent conversation with Ralph from Right Reaction, "For a Christian Defence".Also of interest might be Rev Jamie's recent article "Radical Hospitality – A Theological Argument against Vaccine Passports in Churches".Other links from this week:The King Alfred SchoolRev'd Dr William Philip on GB news with Neil OliverNotices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

Vicars Tom Pelham and Jamie Franklin sit down to discuss the latest news from a theological and scriptural perspective. Our opening Scriptures are Zechariah 3 and Romans 5:1-12: the message of the righteousness of Christ given to unworthy sinners. We talked about the notion of vaccine passports in church and society, and we review some theological arguments that have been made against "vaccine sceptics". Other topics include the recent mass shootings in Plymouth and the "incel" community. In addition, we revisit the situation in Afghanistan and talk about the situation for women, young girls and Christian churches and pastors. Please do sign and share our open letter to the PM on vaccine passports and check out our recent discussion with some of the main signatories.Whoever you are, please sign and share the Together Declaration against vaccine passports in society: https://togetherdeclaration.org/Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comLinks:Joshua R. Farris, The Theology Missing from the Vaccine DebatesMelanie McDonagh, Why Incels aren't TerroristsNaama Kates, What the media gets wrong about incels Support the show

Revs Tom and Jamie sit down to discuss the big stories of the day, beginning with the withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan. What has this got to do with Christianity? Quite a lot actually. Further, we review madness north of the wall as the benign leader of People's Republic of Scotland seeks to makes extraordinary Covid powers, well, a bit more ordinary and teachers are told that they should encourage four year-olds in their transgenderism without informing their parents. And we revisit the COVID vaccines and ask whether they should be boycotted because of their proximity to the abortion industry. Our Scripture this week is taken from John 1:14, as we reflect upon the Incarnation and how it relates to transhumanism and "transnaturism".Please do sign and share our open letter to the PM on vaccine passports and check out our recent discussion with some of the main signatories.Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comLinks:Links:The West has Lost its Virtue - Paul Kingsnorth Scottish Government seeks to make COVID powers permanent Scottish four-year olds can change gender at school without parental consentThe plague, the vaccine and our Jeremiah MomentCan I take a vaccine made from aborted babies? Desiring God MinistriesLet’s Get A Few Things Cleared Up: Testing, Cell Lines and Fetal Tissue - Children of God for LifeSupport the show

Revs Tom and Jamie return to talk about: A-Levels results and why our education secretary won't reveal his; Libertarianism, Freedom and Collectivism; the coming climate change apocalypse; the ethics of vaccinating 16 and 17 year-olds, the axing of dissenting advisor Robert Dingwall and a return to the issue of the United Beach Mission's banning of unvaccinated volunteers; and vaccine passports domestically and abroad.Our Scripture this week is taken from Psalm 127: "Except the Lord builds the house, the labourers labour in vain."Please do sign and share our open letter to the PM on vaccine passports and check out our recent discussion with some of the main signatories.Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comLinks:Open Letter to the Prime Minister concerning vaccine passports: https://vaccinepassportletter.wordpress.com/Climate Change "Code Red for Humanity": https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58130705Dissenting advisor axed from government vaccination committee: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/revealed-robert-dingwall-axed-as-government-advisorIsrael Hayom, No Mercy on Vaccine Opponents: https://www.israelhayom.co.il/opinions/article/3913274/Support the show

Something a bit different for this podcast extra. A special episode in which Rev Jamie is joined by his better half, Lorna, and Catholic blogger and mother of four Zoe Willis to talk about home education, motherhood and parenting in the age of madness through which we are currently living. Among the topics discussed were: Why Homeschooling?; Homeschooling as cultural memory and resistance to totalitarianism; Tips for those who can't or don't want to; Common myths and objections: Won't my children turn into weirdos? I'm not clever enough to home educate.Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comLinks:Zoe Willis' Blog: https://www.withsighs.com/Education Otherwise: https://www.educationotherwise.org/Bonnie Landry: https://www.bonnielandry.ca/Bonnie Landry Podcast: https://makejoynormal.buzzsprout.com/Bonnie Landry How-To Workshop: https://www.bonnielandry.ca/aboutConquest Books Homeschool Curricula: https://www.conquestbooks.co.uk/Monkey Mum, How much time in school is actually spent learning?: https://monkeymum.blog/2015/09/13/time-is-precious/ Peter Gray, Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life, 2013Support the show

In this special episode, Rev Dr Jamie Franklin speaks with some of the co-authors and principal signatories of the Open Letter from Christian Leaders to the Prime Minister Concerning Vaccine Passport Proposals from April 2020. In light of the announcements in July that Vaccine Passports are set to become a reality in nightclubs and other crowded venues, we discuss the three main points of our original letter, which has now been reopened for signatures and will be resent to the PM and all MPs. We contend that these proposals are illogical and irrelevant from a medical and scientific standpoint, that they are immoral from a societal standpoint and that they are unacceptable to the Church and impossible theologically.If you are a Christian leader in a church or a Christian organisation, we ask that you consider signing this letter. Whoever you are, please share it far and wide on your social media channels and in any other appropriate way. Thank you!Joining Rev Jamie were Rev Dr William Philip of the Tron Church in Glasgow, Rev David Johnson of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and Rev Paul Levy of the Ealing International Presbyterian Church in London.Links:Letter from Christian Clergy to PM Opposing Vaccine Passports - https://vaccinepassportletter.wordpress.comNotices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show