Tag: language
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Word Matters #7 — “Church”: Why Buildings Aren’t the Church (They’re Just the Rain Shelter)
A deep dive into what “church” really means — why ekklēsia is people, not buildings, and why the “rain shelter” joke is good theology.
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Word Matters #6 — “Holy Catholic Church”: Why I Don’t Say “Holy Universal Church”
Early in ministry I thought replacing “catholic” with “universal” in the creed was pastoral genius. Years later, I’m convinced the swap creates more confusion than it solves. “Catholic” is the older, clearer, safer word — once you explain it. This piece explores why the historic term guards the gospel better than its modern substitute, and…
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Word Matters #5 — The P-Word: Priest, Presbyter, and “The Rev on the Railway”
On the railway my nickname is “The Rev” — short for “Reverend”, because I’m an Anglican priest. But the P-word is complicated: OT priests, NT priests, presbyters, English drift, Sydney’s “presbyter” fix. This post untangles why the labels matter without messing with the gospel.
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Word Matters #1 — Why Words Matter
Starting a series on language, Scripture, and confidence for ordinary Christians.