SIMON PHIPPS

We live in a society where the predominant worldview is materialism - the belief that the only things that are real are physical. Even as Christians we are not immune from the effects of this upon our perception of reality. It is very hard for us to escape from this when the physical world - perceptible by our five senses - seems all-encompassing. But as Christians, we take a different view of reality than our materialist neighbours: It is the view that love, not particles, is at the centre and foundation of all reality . We know that physical reality - the known universe - is finite . It had a beginning and it will have an end. Equally, we know that God is infinite - He has no beginning or end. Therefore God existed when the universe (or any physical reality) did not . The Bible reveals that God IS love   (1 John 4:8). God does not change, therefore God has always been love (Hebrews 13:8). Love does not exist in a vacuum. Love cannot exist as a sin...

In modern society, we think that we have a good handle on love. We have moved beyond the oppression of the past and are free to love and to be loved. Countless programs, films, adverts and Instagram stories seek to show us what real love is; and how we can achieve it. Yet we are surrounded by broken relationships and failed marriages. Promises of a life that we dreamed of that were shattered by reality. We have been fed a lie. Love is not a feeling. What we call love is in fact infatuation. This intensity of feeling fades. All relationships have that phase. The honeymoon phase. That feeling of intense desire. And then it ends. And we settle into " something else ". The problem is that the version of love that has been sold to us tells us that the " something else " is bad. We then must seek for that love (infatuation) again. If we can't get it back with that same person then we seek it with someone else. But love is not...

I am a terrible dancer; literally. My signature move is called the ‘crazy octopus’. I invented it. But I love dancing, especially when no one is looking. I have always wanted to take dancing lessons, so that I can look better on the dance floor, but also because dancing with someone is such a beautiful thing to behold. In the ancient Orthodox tradition, the Trinity is viewed as a dance. The son moves around the father and spirit, the spirit moves around the father and son, and the father moves around the spirit and son. Each one complementing the other, each one equal. The dance itself breathing life into creation. We are called to join in this dance with God, to move in rhythm with Her. I guess that this is what they call discipleship, what they call ‘being the church’. When I think of the dance, what kind of music are we dancing to? What do the steps look like? I imagine it has to start with love, seeing as God is love. The scriptures paint the picture: Justice, mercy, peace,...