Category: Blog

The Third Way Blog

A GENOCIDAL FAMINE IN GAZA:  the sin of spiritual bypassing

Western Christianity has failed the people of Gaza. Let’s admit it.  We have fallen short of our Christian mandate — something must change. Instead of a unified outcry from the global Christian community, a SPIRITUAL BYPASSING set in. Rather than sorrow, some defended the massacre. Rather than mourning, some rationalised the killings. Rather than standing for peace, some justified the destruction.

By Mike May 7, 2025 Off

WHAT THE IRAN EXPLOSION TAUGHT ME: 5 steps in making Godly assumptions

On Saturday 26 April 2025, a massive explosion rocked a port in southern Iran, killing 25 people and injuring around 800 others. Upon hearing the news, I immediately made a calculated and informed assumption that the initial negotiations between the USA, Israel and Iran had collapsed, and Israel and America had finally carried out their threats to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities. I was wrong. But to be honest, we all, at one stage or another in life, embark on this perilous journey of making assumptions.  The challenge is therefore not how to stop making assumptions but how to make Godly assumptions and break free from the corrosive habit of making foolish assumptions.

By Mike May 1, 2025 Off

BECOMING BEGGARS OF PEACE: a “love zone” from Lebanon

The ultimate purpose of engagement and dialogue from a Christian perspective is redemption.  It is a unique consecration entrusted to redeemed people.  If we do not engage in peace by the way we talk and the way we act, we relinquish our spiritual duty of being peacemakers. This is beautifully illustrated by a testimony from Lebanon

By Mike April 25, 2025 Off

POPE FRANCIS: a legacy of humility

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, has died on Easter Monday. Dr. Jim Denison from Denison Forum writes that of all that could be said about Pope Francis, the one character trait that stood out was his humility.

By Mike April 21, 2025 Off

MARY, THE FIRST CHRISTIAN JOURNALIST: investigating the tombs of life

The first Christian “journalist” in Scripture that we read of was Mary Magdalene (John 20:18).  She went to investigate the tomb of Jesus and when she found it empty she went to the disciples WITH THE NEWS: “I have seen the Lord! ”  There are some valuable lessons to learn from Mary’s approach as we contemplate global news and seek to expand our mental capacity.

By Mike April 21, 2025 Off

CHRISTIANITY IN GAZA:  For God’s sake, Church, stand out and speak up!

The covenant community of God, NOT Israel but the bride of Christ, should always be our first concern when we address the conflict in Gaza.  Not the only concern, but the first concern.  Not Israel but the Church.  And yet, one of the less-discussed effects of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza is the threat to, and possible elimination of, Christian communities in Gaza and throughout the Holy Land.

By Mike April 9, 2025 Off

THE WAR IN GAZA: Reading the Bible upside down!

The Bible is dangerous. It contains the most wonderful passages of universal love, and it contains instructions for genocide. We always have a choice about which parts of the Bible we pay attention to. So, how do we navigate Biblical truths that seem to contradict one another and leave enough room for devout followers of the “God of love” to weaponize their hatred for the enemy and lack of love for those who are different? We just need to read it standing on our heads

By Mike April 4, 2025 Off

EASTER IN GAZA: A terrible beauty is born

The pain and hardship endured by the people of Gaza will remain senseless and meaningless unless we can view it from the shadow of the cross, and find the terrible beauty that is born in the suffering and hardship of the Palestinian people.

By Mike April 2, 2025 Off