About

What this blog is about

Melbourne may be the most liveable city in the world, but like every other global city, its people can become trapped by myopic visions of materialism and hedonistic individualism. The most stunning idea to have reached our city is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and although it is the most contentious of messages, in my opinion it remains the most important.

My aim is to engage with Melbourne culture and churches through a Gospel lens.

About the author

IMG_0033I live in the city that is sometimes confused with the New Jerusalem, such is the ridiculous standard of living that most of us enjoy. I love Melbourne.

I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband, a father, Pastor of Mentone Baptist Church, and formerly a classical pianist.

People can follow me on twitter at @MurrayJCampbell

For information about Mentone Baptist Church, follow this link http://mentonebaptist.com.au/about-us

17 thoughts on “About”

  1. Your comments on the idiocy of DCM refusing a religious ad were pretty good. I skim read it, so have to go back later & read it properly. But I was astounded at you saying that God is not everyone’s father. As the creator of the universe he cannot be anything else.

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    • Hi John,

      thank you for your comment. About knowing God as Father, there’s a few things to keep in mind:
      1. There is one God and he is three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This God is, as you say, the creator of the universe. But knowing God as creator is not the same as knowing God personally and enjoying his gracious salvation.

      2. Jesus understood that not everyone knows God and can call him Father. For example, Jesus said, ‘You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him’ (John 8:44).

      3. The Lord’s prayer is for disciples of Jesus, in contrast to the hypocrites & self-righteous whom he is exposing in the sermon on the mount.

      4. Knowing God as Father is his gracious gift to people who by nature are outside his blessing. The Scriptures teach us that knowing God as Father is the work of the Holy Spirit on account of what Christ has achieved – the doctrine of adoption.

      “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children”. (Romans 8:14-16)

      ‘In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ’ (Ephesians 1:4-5).

      hope that helps a little

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  2. I just want to thank you Murray for speaking out and having a voice for common sense. Please keep it up! Australia desperately needs you and others like you right now. Stay strong for this generation and the next no matter the criticism. Thanks again, Ash

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  4. Hey Murray

    My boyfriend and I are coming out of the NAR/Word of Faith Charasmatic Movement..
    We are avid listeners to the teachings of John McArthur, Costi Hinn, Justin Peters and so on..

    We are looking for other like minded churches who base their teachings on the true gospel of Jesus, the truth.

    Help?!?!

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  5. olHoppy 06-04-2020
    This is the first time I have read anything written by you , Murray. The thought that came straight into my mind was ‘whenever there is an inkling of doubt in my mind about our creator God, I find something like these writings that takes me instantly back to that place of Peace that passes all Understanding’ .
    It is so pleasing to read brilliantly written words that exactly summarize my thinking on the subject ,
    I am nearly always disappointed that at age 74, I am not happy that I have written what I had in mind to say! (see what I mean!) Thank you very much, Mate! I will be keeping my Best eye out for you in future. God bless…. …ol Hoppy

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  6. Hi Murray
    Enjoy and learn from your blogs.
    Interesting difference in wordpress version I received and browser…see below, identity NOT in our adoption to sonship.
    Thanks
    Bruce
    While Genesis sets the foundations, it is Jesus Christ who redeems sinful men and women and does so not by eradicating sex and gender but through restoration. This redemption does more than return us to Eden, but points us to the ultimate realisation of humanity, to be known by Christ and found in him. For the Christian, our truest and deepest identity lies not in our adoption to sonship,

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  8. Hi Murray
    I did noticed your blog some years ago, and found it refreshing in what is becoming an increasingly anti Christian society. I do like your down to earth ‘flavour’.
    Do you still allow comments on what you have written, as I find it instructive to see how others respond to your articles?
    I now live in Nimbin NSW, for the last 22 years, and have been following Christ since 1975. My wife and I found Christ outside any church, and then associated with various denominations such as the Christian Missionary Alliance in Sydney. We lived in Bairnsdale, Vic, for 11 years and we were in the AOG there, before it got sucked into Hillsong. My wife and I are Pentecostal “dropouts”, and have had not found any Christian group that we can associate with up this way. The only churches that ‘seem to be alive’, are Pentecostalic, to which we are totally allergic to, and reject their NAR theology. There have been some great small local bible study gatherings in Nimbin, but they have withered away, for a variety of reasons, so regrettably, we find it difficult to have any real fellowship with other believers.

    Peter

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