Has the church failed the poor? Ross Douthat, a columnist at the New York Times responds to questions of whether the church has failed the poor because of its obsession with the culture war. “Anyone who tells you that America’s pastors are obsessed with homosexuality or abortion only hears them through a media filter.” Read more…

A post-God nation: Roy Williams, author of bestseller God, actually, has released a new book this week called Post God Nation? How Religion Fell Off The Radar in Australia. He spoke with Andrew West from ABC’s Religion and Ethics report on what Christianity and the secular left have in common and why we’ve taken the influence of Christianity on our culture for granted. Read more… 

Presbyterian split: David Cook, Australia’s Presbyterian Moderator has declined to attend the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly this year, after the last Assembly voted 309 to 182 in favour of allowing those in same sex civil partnerships to be called as ministers and deacons of the church. “Our Mother Church has left the family home,” he said. Read more… 

Worship on national morning TV: In anticipation of the release of their new album, Empires, nex week, Hillsong United were invited to play on Channel 9’s The Morning Show this week. They sang ‘Touch The Sky’, and you can watch it below. Here’s a few lyrics that graced the national airwaves.

“Find me here at Your feet again
Everything I am, reaching out in surrender
Come sweep me up in Your love again
And my soul will dance
On the wings of forever”