Invited guests include local retailers, representatives from local community groups and schools, as well as the Mayor of Newtownabbey, Alderman Victor Robinson, the Mayoress and local councillors. Taking part in the service was: Rev Mervyn Kilpatrick of the Methodist Church; Rev David Brice from Glengormley Presbyterian; Rev William Boyce from St Brigid's Church of Ireland; and 'Father' Dan Whyte of St Bernard's Roman Catholic Church.
This event further highlights the gross apostasy of the mainline Churches which can conduct joint worship with a Roman Catholic priest. A letter was sent to the Newtownabbey Times pointing this out:
The ecumenical spirit on display at the Community Carol Service in Glengormley is a sad betrayal of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by those Protestant ministers who joined with and permitted a Roman Catholic priest to participate.
Romanism is not Christian therefore no Romish priest should be taking part in any service in a Protestant Church. The doctrinal statements of the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church, as well as the teachings of John Wesley which forms the basis for the doctrinal beliefs of Methodism, clearly emphasis this.
God can only be properly worshipped on the basis of truth, John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. There can be no common ground between Romanism and Biblical Protestantism.
The 'Christ' that Romanism preaches is one totally different to that revealed to us in the Word of God. It is not possible for these so called Protestant ministers to profess allegiance to the Saviour and the Bible and at the same time associate with one who openly denies the Christ of the Bible. Romanism preaches another Christ and 'another Gospel' which will not save anyone, Gal 1:6-9.
Sadly we live in times when great departure from historic orthodox Christianity has taken place. These Protestant ministers are part of that growing departure, 2 Thess 2:3.
Born again believers should have no part in such a service and also have no association with those who betray the Gospel in this fashion.
We are commanded in the New Testament to mark out those who have departed from the faith, Rom 16:17; reprove and reject them, Eph 5:11, Titus 3:10; have no fellowship with them, 2 Cor 6;14 and separate wholly from them, 2 Cor 6:17. That was evidently not happening at the community carol service.
May in this year that marks the 150th anniversary of the 1859 Revival we see a return to Biblical Christianity.
6 comments:
It is clear that Free Presbyterianism itself is an exclusive grouping that has no open association with even any other evangelical church in the protestant community. Perhaps it is only Free Presbyterianism that is Christian and has the full truth.
Anonymous
If you cared to look you would find that your assertion is just plain wrong.
It is true that the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster has nothing to do with the ecumenical apostasy of the mainline Protestant Churches, such as Church of Ireland, Presbyterian & Methodist. That is why there is a 'Free' in our name.
However, we do have associations with other evangelical churches, for example, those within the Caleb Foundation here in Northern Ireland. If you care to look at the 'Council of Reference' you will see there a number of Free Presbyterians listed, [www.calebfoundation.org/page2.htm].
Maybe you would now like to deal with the issue raised in this post: How can so called Protestant ministers join with a Romish priest in defiance of the teaching of Scripture and their ordination vows?
Honesty and integrity would at the very least require them to resign their positions if they no longer believe what their confessional statements say.
Rev Brian McClung
What your saying is so ridiculous. How can you condemn Churches in Glengormey for coming together? Why should Christians not be allowed to celebrate with each other? And most importantly why is John Wesley got more authority over Jesus. If Jesus was on earth right now he would invite all people to come together. Like he invited tax collectors and sinnershe would do the same today. You remind me of the Pharisees. Who are you to decide who believes in God and what type of God they believe in. Allah is the same God as our God. We all have different Qatari access him. Perhaps you should look at the log in your own eye before you look at the sec in the eyes of those who are trying to live a roper Christian life. Jesus welcomed diversity and no one was rejected who wanted him so don't you start deciding who he does and does not want. Anyway, if ur thoery about breaking away from the truth and Religion is correct then you, not the Carholic Church, can be accused of losing your real faith as your faith came from Catholicism.
Anonymous
Your words would count for a lot more if you had the courage to put your name to them. I don't think much of anyone who is ashamed of what they have to say.
Now to deal with the points you raise:
1. It is the Word of God that asks the questions:
What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? 2 Cor 6:14-16.
It further states in the same passage:
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty, 2 Cor 6:17,18.
God commands us to separate from error. You seem to be oblivious to this simple principle of Scripture.
What common ground is there between a Protestant minister who is true to his ordination vows which state that the Scriptures teach salvation by faith alone in Christ alone and a Romish priest whose Church states that to believe in justification by faith alone is anathema.
Someone is not being honest! The Bible asks the question:
can two walk together except they be agreed, Amos 3:3.
Unity has to be around the truth and not around error which is what took place in Glengormley. God forbids unity with falsehood. That is why no Bible believer should have anything to do with ecumenism.
This unity built upon a lie is of the devil and part of the departure from God that the Bible teaches will mark the end time.
I will answer you other points in another comment.
Rev Brian McClung
2. I quoted John Wesley to show the inconsistency of a methodist minister joining in worship with a Romish priest.
John Wesley said the following about the Pope when commenting upon 2 Thess 2:3:
But the man of sin, the son of perdition - Eminently so called, is not come yet.
However, in many respects, the Pope has an indisputable claim to those titles. He is, in an emphatical sense, the man of sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled, the son of perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers, destroyed innumerable souls, and will himself perish everlastingly. He it is that opposeth himself to the emperor, once his rightful sovereign.
3. While Jesus Christ invited sinners to come to Him, He taught them that there was but one way to come and that was through Him:
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me, John 14:6.
That rules our coming via any other religion such as Islam as you suggest. Islam is a religion of works and works does not gain you entrance to heaven. Allah and the God of the Bible could not be further apart.
4. My religion did not come from [Roman] Catholicism. My religion comes from the Bible which Rome sought repeatly to burn and destroy.
5. The only diversity the Bible recognises is that on non essentials to salvation. On matters relating to salvation if you are not 'born again' you will never be in heaven. The Lord Jesus told this to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, John 3:3,7. Nicodemus had religion but he did not have Christ as his Saviour and therefore he would never see the kingdom of God.
There is not much diversity here!
Rev Brian McClung
Do you celebrate Christmas?. It is not a Christian Festival. Should your comments not reflect this fact. Or are you happy to join in this Heathen Feast.
David.
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