Video: Protesters claim show makes ‘a mockery of the Word of God’

Click on screen shot below to link to a short video clip of last night's protest

Free Presbyterian Protest

Last night around 70-75 Free Presbyterians protested against this offensive play at the Theatre at the Mill. A letter of protest was handed in outlining our unhappiness at the reversal of the decision to host this production and its play about the Bible [see below]. 

Dirty Tricks by the Artistic Board over Offensive Play

A letter sent out yesterday on behalf of the chair, Councillor Billy Webb, of the Artistic Board, which oversees the Theatre at the Mill in Newtownabbey, makes it abundantly clear that the first vote to cancel this offensive play on Wednesday 22nd January, was purely a 'tactical' move by those determined to press ahead with this offensive production.

In explaining why events took the turn they did, Councillor Webb writes:
On Wednesday 22nd January, the artistic board voted tactically [emphasis mine] to withdraw the play from the programme. They had been shown a letter from a Councillor and member of the artistic board, which had been sent to the Chairman, appealing to him to stop the production. They were also made aware that, if they voted to keep the play in the programme, the likely outcome would be that, at a scheduled meeting of the council on Monday 27th January, the lay [sic] would be pulled.

Statement on behalf of the Caleb Foundation

REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY PERFORMANCE 

AT THEATRE AT THE MILL, NEWTOWNABBEY

The Caleb Foundation is a lobby group which seeks to represent the views of Evangelical Christians across Northern Ireland.

We welcomed the cancellation of the production ‘The Bible: the Complete Word of God’ by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, in response to concerns expressed by and to Councillors in Newtownabbey, and are greatly disappointed that this decision has now been reversed.

Why we oppose offensive play: "The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)"

1859 Revival Series - No 5: The Impact of the Revival

This is an outline of a series of sermons preached, one per month, January - June 2009, marking the 150th Anniversary of the 1859 Revival in Ulster

Previous posts:

No 1: The Need of the Revival

No 2: The Origin of the Revival

No 3: The Spread of the Revival
No 4: The Features of the Revival

Psalm 126 v 2,3  - the Lord hath done great things

In returning to our series commemorating the 150th anniversary of the 1859 Revival we are coming to consider the Impact that the Revival had.

It has to be confessed that it certainly had a mighty impact around the country. Wherever the Revival fires burned individuals and wider society did not remain the same. They were changed and changed for the better. As in this Psalm it was the confession of both saints and sinners that the Lord had done great things.

Spiritually the Revival made a tremendous impact. Socially and morally the Revival also made a significant impact. It may well be argued that the Revival had a major impact politically as well. It laid the foundation for the resistance of the Home Rule Bills which were initially pushed by William Gladstone, the British prime Minister. Charles Stewart Parnell had been campaigning for Home Rule for Ireland since the 1870s. The first Home Rule bill was introduced in April 1886. It became the cry of northern Protestants that Home Rule was Rome Rule and would not be tolerated.

Call to Protestant Politicians to uphold Biblical values

The Evangelical Protestant Society yesterday released a statement calling upon Protestant Politicians to uphold Biblical values. It reads:
The Evangelical Protestant Society, as an evangelical umbrella organisation which seeks to defend and promote evangelical Protestantism in our changing society, has been concerned for some time about the gradual but steady erosion of Ulster’s Protestant foundations. We have therefore written to all Protestant and Unionist elected representatives at Stormont and Westminster to urge them to take a firm stand in two specific areas where we feel there has been slippage in recent times.

To read the rest of the statement click here.

Offensive play at Mossley Mill has been cancelled!!

Just heard this afternoon that the offensive play entitled: The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) has been cancelled and will not now go ahead.

Welcome news indeed!!

Newtownabbey Times - Artistic Board axes controversial theatre show

Offensive play at Mossley Mill

An offensive play is due to take at The Theatre at the Mill. It is entitled: "The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)". See here

Here is the text of a letter sent to the Theatre Manager outlining our objections:

The Minister, Session and congregation of Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church wish to register in the strongest terms the grave offence that is caused to us by The Theatre at the Mill hosting the production entitled: "The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)".

This particular production mocks the Bible which is the eternal Word of the living God. It also lifts up to ridicule, derision and scorn that which we hold in reverence. What makes this production even more offensive is that it is a parody of the truth contained in the Bible. To poke fun at that which we hold in high esteem and regard is grieving to us all and we believe also to many other evangelical Christians in other denominations. To mock that which others have respect and admiration for is the conduct of a playground bully or on this occasion the theatrical bully.

51 abortions performed in Northern Ireland last year

Sadly, the number of abortions carried out in Northern Ireland has increased with 51 terminations performed in local hospitals last year an increase of 16 over the previous year.

BBC News - 51 abortions performed in Northern Ireland

See also - Scriptural Observations on the issue of Abortion

Charity Commission U-turns over Exclusive Brethren case

I have mentioned this case before so it is good to see a positive resolution

Christian Institute - Charity Commission U-turns over Exclusive Brethren case

Charity Commission for England & Wales - Charity Commission will accept application for registration from Preston Down Trust after organisation agrees to amend governing document.

Some background information:
Blog - A sign of things to come [17th November 2012]

Christian Institute - Charity Commission is picking on Brethren, say MPs [19th December 2012]

Daily Telegraph - MPs blast Charity Commission over Brethren group refusal [18th December 2012]

Will the Haass proposals include Public Meetings such as 'Christian Commemorations', 'Gospel Open-airs' & 'Christian Protests'?

A previous attempt to resolve issues, through legislation, surrounding 'parading' in Northern Ireland  did envisage including Gospel Open-airs & Christian Protests. It was back in the spring of 2010 that the then proposed legislation was going to require anyone organising an open-air Gospel meeting or protest, where there was the prospect of more than 50 people in attendance, to have to give 37 and 22 working days notice respectively. Objectors to such events would only have had to give 7 days notice.

These proposals were only dropped after a storm of protest. At the time objections were received from the Human Rights Commission and the likes of Emmon McCann, hardly the frontline defenders of Gospel liberties!

This therefore begs the question whether the Haass proposals this time around will seek to include something similar? In reading through the 'Haass Proposals' the section dealing with 'Parades, Select Commemorations, and Related Protests' is not entirely clear. The document uses a raft of different wording and phraseology. For example, it includes the following words/phrases: 'parading and marching'; 'parades, protests, and events'; 'parades, protests, and other events'; 'parading, protesting, and assembling'; 'parade, commemorate, and protest'; 'parades, select commemorations, and related protests'; 'parades, select commemorations, and protests'; 'parades and other events' & 'parade or select commemoration', etc.

'Awake My Heart' by J. Sidlow Baxter

Awake, my heart, in joyful days

To Him who blesses all that days.

His lovingkindness crowneth thee

With daily mercies rich and free

Awake, to worship with the morn,

And consecrate the day new-born.

Again at eve in prayer be found,

As shadows curtain earth around.

Blog Anniversary

The turn of the year marks the anniversary of this Blog. It was commenced in January 2009. Since that time 380 'posts' have been made. In excess of 600 comments/replies have been made on these 'posts'. The top ten 'posts' and the top ten countries from which the Blog is accessed are listed below.

Stats for December