Definition of Hyper-Calvinism

I came across this helpful definition of Hyper-Calvinism:

A Hyper-Calvinist denies one or more of the following points:

1. that the gospel call applies to all who hear;

2. that faith is the duty of every sinner;

3. that the gospel makes any 'offer' of Christ, salvation, or mercy to the non-elect (or denies that the offer of divine mercy is free and universal);

4. that there is such a thing as 'Common Grace';

5. that God has any sort of love for the non-elect.

Police ban Bible from 'Christian' café

Police in Lancashire have threatened the owner of a 'Christian' café with arrest and told him that he should stop displaying Bible verses on a TV screen because it is offensive and a crime.

Jamie Murray is the owner of the Salt & Light Coffee House in Blackpool. Police told him that displaying the Bible verses was a breach of Section 5 of the Public Order Act.

See Daily Mail report

See the  Christian Institute's response which highlights that Mr Murray is not breaking the law at all and is perfectly entitled to display verses from the Word of God. 

Bring back the cane!!!!

So says 49% of parents and 19% of pupils in a recent survey according to the Daily Mail

Growing disquiet within the Church of Ireland over minister's civil partnership

It has taken a while but a number of ministers within the Church of Ireland are objecting to the civil partnership arrangement that a fellow minister has entered into to.

Ten Church of Ireland ministers have issued a joint statement to the Portadown Times.

In what are hardly the strongest of words they say this civil partnership has given rise to 'hurt and sadness' within their respective congregations.

To read the full story click here

For some background to this story click here

The acceptance of sodomy is a mark of departure from God. It is expressly stated in the Word of God that the sin of sodomy is an abomination to God. yet despite this clear testimony in both Old and New Testaments we have churches and so-called Christians justifying and excusing this sin.

It is often argued that someone's sexual orientation is fixed like the colour of their skin or their gender. To oppose sodomy in some circles is liken to racism or sexism.

There is a world of difference between skin colour or any other non-moral difference that exists between people in this world and that which the Bible classes as sin. Sin is a moral choice for which we are accountable before God. Sin is the breaking of God's law by either failing to adhere to the standard that God requires or actively transgressing God's commandments.

Sodomy stems from the sinful nature mankind developed at the Fall. The committing of this sin has always brought the judgement of God upon it down through the ages.

Thankfully there is redemption from this sin. There were those in the Church at Corinth who had been delivered from this sin, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11:Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Tom Elliott & Danny Kennedy to be disciplined by Orange Order for attending funeral Mass

The BBC are reporting that both Tom Elliott and Danny Kennedy are to face disciplinary proceedings because of their attendance at the Roman Catholic funeral Mass held for Ronan Kerr, the PSNI officer shot dead by republicans.

Read the full report here

It will be very interesting to watch how far this goes within the Orange Order. It is one thing to register a complaint and request disciplinary proceedings to commence, it is another thing altogether for it actually to happen.

I would be surprised, but nonetheless delighted, if it is successful!

Newtownabbey Borough Council Subsidising Ecumenism

It transpires, as a result of a Freedom of Information request submitted to Newtownabbey Borough Council, that the ecumenical venture, C.A.N., mentioned in a previous post, and of which the new Greater Glengormley Churches Community Forum is a part, is being subsidised in part by the local Council.

In the region of £50,000 has so far been given to this ecumenical venture. This is not including Council facilities that have been put at its disposal:

1. £6,780 was given to Williamson Consulting during the consultation phase. A focus group meeting was also held at the Council owned Mossley Mill.

2. £42,500 was given to Macaulay Associates during the delivery phase. Four steering group meetings were held at Mossley Mill, plus a training session and a further three focus group meetings leading to the setting up of the Churches' Forum. The booking fee of £250 for the hire of the room to launch the Greater Glengormley Churches Community Forum was also waived.

It will be interesting to discover how much of this £50,000 comes from ratepayers in the Borough and whether the Council would be so accommodating to Protestant evangelical groups who might want to use Council premises for the furtherance of their objectives!

Free Presbyterian response to Rev David Latimer's attendance at the Sinn Fein conference

This letter by Rev Ian Brown, minister of Londonderry FPC & Clerk of Presbytery was sent to the Newsletter, Belfast Telegraph & Londonderry Sentinel. 

I find it most bizarre to note that Rev. David Latimer has constantly resorted to the line, “I’m not a politician, but a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” in an effort to defend his performance at the recent Sinn Fein conference.

A quick check of the New Testament will reveal that ministers of the Gospel of Christ told the truth, issued robust challenges and did not airbrush the iniquities of their audiences, but rather confronted them with a clear call to repentance.

Peter, in preaching to a crowd of Jewish worshippers on the day of Pentecost, directly charged them with killing Christ “by their wicked hands” and proceeded to urge them to repent of their sin (Acts 2:23, 38).

Stephen, in what proved to be his final sermon, accused his hearers of being “betrayers and murderers” – the latest in a long line of men who persecuted and killed the true prophets of God (Acts 7:51-53).

Paul, invited to address Felix, delivered such a pointed message to that Roman leader that as he “reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come,” Felix trembled (Acts 24:25).

Regrettably, Rev. Latimer displayed little of the characteristics of a minister of the Gospel of Christ when he made his appearance at the Sinn Fein conference.

Not a single Bible reference. Not a solitary challenge. Rather, in a simpering, self-promoting performance, he chose to confer what is likely to be the most inappropriate word of congratulation we will hear in our lifetime, before revising history in such a way that would fill the most ardent republicans with pride - and further riddle their victims with pain.

Instead of parking himself in news bulletins and talk shows in a futile effort to explain statements he never should have uttered, or to repeat his pitch for a bigger platform from which he wishes to lead this country in a ‘Day of Hope and Transformation,’ Mr Latimer would spend his time more profitably if he took soundings from the true victims in our country and tried to understand the rawness of their wounds. He would then be far less likely to allow himself to be cast in the role of a propagandist for unrepentant terrorists.

Sadly, in David Latimer, Max Clifford has a viable rival. But Jesus Christ does not have a reliable minister.

Rev. Ian Brown
Londonderry Free Presbyterian Church

Why the Free Presbyterian Church won't be taking part in Greater Glengormley Churches' Community Forum

On 12th August past I received, by an email, an invitation to attend the inaugural meeting of the Greater Glengormley Churches Community Forum. This meeting was to be held in Mossley Mill on Monday evening, 22nd August at 6.30pm.

Background

This proposed Forum is part of a wider grouping/organisation which has taken the acrostic C.A.N. as part of their title. C.A.N. stands for Carrickfergus, Antrim and Newtownabbey. It is a Peace Partnership Faith Communities Programme, developed in consultation with local faith based organisations under the subtitle: Connecting Faith and Community.

It is stated that this venture, which the Forum seems to be but one aspect of, is part of the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland. This Peace III programme is partly funded by the European Union to the tune of €225 million, with further national contributions of €108 million through its Structural Funds programme. That brings the total to €333 million. 

This Peace III programme covers the period 2007-2013. The previous programme, Peace II, ran from 2000-2006, with €425 million funding.

This invitation was extended by Macaulay Associates Network who have been appointed by the CAN Peace III Partnership to deliver the programme.

Progress

This Forum has originated out of a series of focus groups, conducted between March and June of this year, involving representatives of local churches, and supported by Glengormley Clergy Fellowship. The listed participants of these focus groups include: 

Carnmoney & New Mossley Presbyterian Churches; 

Carnmoney Church of Ireland; 

St Marys & St Bernards Roman Catholic Churches; 

Glengormley Methodist Church & 

Glenabbey Fellowship.

The Forum is to be led by lay church members in the Greater Glengormley area, and will maintain regular communication with the Glengormley Clergy Fellowship.

A representative Steering Group was set up at the meeting on 20th June 2011. During July and August 2011 the Steering Group has been meeting to develop a strategy and action plan for the next two years.

It is envisaged that the Forum will move around the local churches when it meets. 

The sanitising of Sinn Fein continues apace

Martin McGuinness has been described as: one of the great leaders of modern time, by a Presbyterian minister speaking at Sinn Fein's annual conference in Belfast.

Addressing delegates in the Waterfront Hall, Rev David Latimer from First Derry Presbyterian Church said differing religious and political beliefs should no longer be a source of suspicion.

He becomes another in a long line of politicians, clergy, etc who are engaged in sanitising Sinn Fein.

To read a full report click here

What saith the Scriptures is the reaction of a born again believer to comments like this? Does the Scriptures support describing a self confessed terrorist in this fashion? 

1. The sixth commandment states: Thou shalt not kill, Ex 20:13. A man who supports, condones and excuses murder in the name of a politial objective is acting contrary to the law of God. 

2. Murder is one of the things that God hates: These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren, Prov 6:16-19.

3. The murderer is worthy of death: Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man, Gen 9:6.

In describing McGuinness in the fashion that he has David Latimer is therefore not acting according to the teaching of the Word of God. A different spirit evidently motivates him. 

Page views for August

Here is a breakdown of page views for the blog during the month of August

Most viewed articles last month