Tenth live discussion Wed 16 March 2011, Bishop Wordworth's School, Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Previously Bishop Wordworth's wrote:

What is your opinion of abortion in relation to rape cases when a woman would have no resources to bring up the child and would live with a child formed without love, but with fear and hatred for the offender and could not guarantee that they would love their child when it was born?

Thanks. Very important question. I am conservative on the issue of abortion because of the concept of all people being made in the image of God. The trauma of rape is utterly horrific and a pregnancy resulting from rape adds to the trauma. In some cases, it may well be right to terminate the pregnancy on health grounds concerning the mother, but it seems to me that in most cases the child being born and then being offered for adoption may be the better way forward. There are some very good pregnancy advice centres and I would recommend meeting with someone from such a centre.

Previously Bishop Wordworth's wrote:

Although the Church of England has a tolerant approach of homosexuality, it does call for gay bishops to be celibate as they have to set an example to their congregation. Doesn't this imply that there is still something intrinsically wrong with homosexual acts in the view of the Church?

Thanks. Not just gay bishops but also gay clergy. I personally think the Bishops Guidelines in the Church of England, 'Issues in Human Sexuality', form a good and balanced reference point. These state that those who are gay in their sexual orientation and wish to be vicars are welcome to be vicars but should be celibate. They do not say the same about lay people in the church ie that they have to be celibate. In all professions, leaders are held to be more accountable than others: judges and police have to have a higher standard of law keeping than others;  teachers have to have a higher standard of behaviour with young people than others; similarly acccountants concerning financial integrity. So, the above distinction between vicars and lay people seems to make sense to me. It is also worth looking at Paul's First Letter to Timothy chapter 3, where he says leaders should be the husband of one wife ie there were clearly people with more than one wife in the congregation, but those could not be leaders.

Oliver O'Donovan has written a fine book, 'A Conversation Waiting to Begin: The Churches and the Gay Controversy' (SCM Press, 2009)

http://www.scmpress.co.uk/bookdetails.asp?ISBN=9780334042105

This is a book of his online essays which may be seen here

http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk/page.cfm?ID=130 

Again, a huge subject. Hope this helps.

Previously Bishop Wordworth's wrote:

With reference to the problem of evil within nature, not directly from humans, this is a domain that is left entirely to the control of natural forces, set up by the designer, God. In this case, even if Evil is just the absence of Good, is he responsible for it, given that we are often as responsible for the consequences of our inaction as we are for our actions?

Thanks. Not everything that happens is in the will of God. Jesus cried when he forsaw the destruction of Jerusalem by Roman armies. God has set up the universe, including planet earth, with dangerous geological movements. Why, I don't know, but he has. Nature and life stretch us. I don't think God sent the earthquake and the tsunami in Japan - but they did happen. Building nuclear sites in an earthquake zone does not seem to me to be particularly wise.

Previously Bishop Wordworth's wrote:

You said in an earlier thread that you were in a tank division in the army; do you think God would approve of the war in Iraq/ Afghanistan, or now that you have found your faith do you think killing people in war is contrary to how God would want us to solve the issues in the Middle East?

thanks. You have done some prior reading! Protecting the weak and vulnerable is an important part of God's justice. The role of the police force in Britain includes that, and sometimes force is needed (interesting that we use the phrase 'Police force') to protect the weak. On an international scale, that, it seems to me, can be extended for the United Nations to intervene in certain circumstances. I do think, eg, that a no fly zone over Libya at the moment is really needed. The invasion of Iraq, we now know, was based on misinformation about weapons of mass destruction and, it seems to me now, was not valid. Lots more to discuss!

Previously Bishop Wordworth's wrote:

If the only way to get into Heaven is through belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, then millions of people who are brought up in non-Christian families are surely denied access to Heaven despite the lives they lead?

Thanks. I believe we are accepted by God by Christ, by the cross and by faith. In Romans chapter 4, Abraham is held up as an example of faith, but since he lived and died before Christ his faith in God 'as he knew him' is equated with our faith in God and in Christ. There may well be millions of others in other faiths who are open in faith to God 'as they know him' but have not yet authencially heard the good news of Christ. For more on this subject, have a look at my attempt to answer this huge question in 'Jesus Christ, Salvation and People of Other Faiths': click here.

Previously Bishop Wordworth's wrote:

Can non-human animals sin?

Thanks. Since it is just past 11.30 and I have to go to another meeting, I'll just say that I'll ask our two cats when I get home...Many thanks for all your questions. I try to answer this one more fully, and the other ones, during the week. Bye for now.

Previously Bishop Wordworth's wrote:

Do you think that the natural world has intrinsic importance, or is it only valuable in so far as if we destroy the planet through global warming then people will suffer? 

Thanks. The natural world, I believe, has intrinsic importance - and has it because it is created by God, and he rejoices in it. He is seriously chuffed with it! See the story - and it is a story - in Genesis One and the poetry in Psalm 104. God is so interested in material things that he became part of his own creation in Jesus of Nazareth.

Previously Bishop Wordworth's wrote:

If you had been brought up in a Muslim family, in whose history no one had ever converted, and brought up believing and practising Islam would you still have become a Christian bishop and why? The point I am trying to make here is that, I feel, to quite a great extent, your faith and beliefs are almost dicatated to you by your parents and you identify with them. So what makes Chrisitanity right over other religions if you answered yes to the initial question?

Thanks. I don't know. I really don't. Some Muslims become Christians - eg through dreams of Christ, or through being healed, and I have taught students from Sudan when I was in Kenya for 7 years who had come to faith in Christ from a Muslim background. I don't think it is all deterministic, but - yes, sure, geography place a huge part in people's religious affiliation. I do thinks, however, that people should have the right to share the good news and to convert if they so wish, without intimidation and death threats. I believe Christianity is unique because Christ is unique in his complete divinity and complete humanity.

Previously Bishop Wordworth's wrote:

I would like to know some of views on sexual ethics, in particular your views on homosexuality. I have only seen a few posts where you have responded to the questions about homosexuality, but I feel you do not offer reasons as to your beliefs on homosexuality. I.e whether it is right or wrong. Instead, it seems to me you take a very neutral stance and see homosexuality as something to be tolerated. I was wondering if you believe homosexuality to be an immoral act and just something the church must put up with, or whether you believe it to be something of moral value.

Thanks. See my comment a few moments ago. I see a key difference between orientation and sexual act, and between the vocation of lay people and clergy.

Previously Bishop Wordworth's wrote:

When somebody prays and asks for help are they trying to influence the Will of God (eg in the Lord's prayer you ask God to 'forgive us our trespasses')? As they are asking Him to do something according to their own wishes is the person praying trying to impose their will on the mind of God, thus gaining some kind of human control over God? Also. if you extend this to the practice of worship is thisw an attempt to gain the favour of God and affect his 'decision making' with some kind of bias?

Thanks. Prayer is part of a continuing personal relationship with God. Jesus taught us to approach God in prayer as 'Father' - with intimacy and respect, which can combine set prayers and 'prayer chat'. You can be completely open with God in prayer. The great thing is, you can't con him! So manipulating God doesn't come into it - though some people reckon that is what is happening. Jesus says in Matthew 6 that God already knows our needs before we ask, but still encourages us to ask. We get changed in prayer by deepening our relationship with God. Gaining favour with God is not necessary - he is keen on us already, since he made us, and longs to relate to us deeply.