Representatives from The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, Government & Morals Committee, met with the Irish Football Association some weeks ago to express our opposition to this football match going ahead, and also to make known the inconvenience it will cause to one of our local Free Presbyterian congregations. Tyndale Memorial congregation, on Donegall Avenue in Belfast, is situated a few hundred yards away from one of the main entrances to Windsor Park, where the football match will be played.
It seems that it doesn't matter that local churches have been going to their place of worship for years, when along comes the bully boys from FIFA and the IFA who will cause disruption to Sabbath day worship without a thought. The match will finish and the spectators will be leaving the ground at exactly the same time as Lord's day evening worshippers would be making their way to the church service along Donegall and Tates Avenue.
The IFA would never have had any discussion with the local church, had it not been for the denomination and the local elders first contacting the IFA. Even then no response was forthcoming, from the IFA, for a number of months. A response only came when it was made known to them that the FPC would be making a public statement on the issue. Suddenly then a meeting was offered about the situation!
While it is deeply grieving that the Sabbath day is going to be further desecrated in this way, it is no surprise. The IFA have been hiding behind FIFA, claiming the arrangements are out of their hands. Yet it is hard to see Islamic countries in eastern Europe and the old Soviet bloc being asked to play during Ramadan. It is interesting that the qualifying rounds finish just before Ramadan commences this year. Wouldn't want to offend Islam or Mohammed, now would we! As for Biblical Christianity it doesn't matter!
Protest
A Free Presbyterian protest will take place against the football match tomorrow afternoon. We will seek to make it known that there are still some in Northern Ireland who hold to the teaching of the Word of God.
All mankind are under the moral law of God, as summarised in the Ten Commandments, as a rule of life. This is especially true of every, true born, child of God. The moral law of God is especially their rule for life. We have been given a new spiritual nature which has a desire to keep God's moral law.
It matters not whether wider society, in general, recognises or accepts the law of God, it is still binding upon them also. The line of argument often employed, that less and less people have any regard for what the Word of God says, is never an acceptable excuse for neglecting or rejecting that same law.
There are many who may despise and evade the law of the land regarding the paying of their taxes. They may disagree with the tax or the manner and level at which it is levied. Their despising of the law, and subsequent tax evasion, does not absolve or excuse their failure to comply. If they are ever caught and brought to court, they will have to give an answer for their way of living and their contempt for the law.
The same is equally true with God’s law. His divine law still stands, whether individuals, organisations or governments recognise it or not. There is coming a day of reckoning for society and for individuals. Society will reap its harvest in this life. Individuals will reap both in this life and at the judgment bar of God.
It matters not whether wider society, in general, recognises or accepts the law of God, it is still binding upon them also. The line of argument often employed, that less and less people have any regard for what the Word of God says, is never an acceptable excuse for neglecting or rejecting that same law.
There are many who may despise and evade the law of the land regarding the paying of their taxes. They may disagree with the tax or the manner and level at which it is levied. Their despising of the law, and subsequent tax evasion, does not absolve or excuse their failure to comply. If they are ever caught and brought to court, they will have to give an answer for their way of living and their contempt for the law.
The same is equally true with God’s law. His divine law still stands, whether individuals, organisations or governments recognise it or not. There is coming a day of reckoning for society and for individuals. Society will reap its harvest in this life. Individuals will reap both in this life and at the judgment bar of God.
Keep the Sabbath holy
We used to call the use of the Sabbath day to engage in sport a 'Republican Sunday', ie. go to a place of worship in the morning and then play sport in the afternoon. Nowadays we have so called Protestants doing so and even professing Christians as well. These professing Christians excuse Sunday sport and make it out to be a matter of individual conscience. Sabbath observance is never a matter of individual conscience. Nothing can become a matter of individual conscience when God had given a specific command regarding it in His Word, cf. Exodus 20:8: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
No one can claim to love the Lord who desecrates the sabbath day, cf. John 14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments. We can't profess love to Christ on one hand and on the other break His commandments. We can't profess love to Christ on one hand and on the other hand particularly break His commandment on keeping the sabbath holy. It's simply an empty profession that we then have. Those who claim to be Christians and play sport on a Sunday would need to remember this. The Word of God is clear and plain on the matter. There is no disputing it. There is only dispute where there is no willingness to obey that Word.
Here is a link to a previous post on this Blog entitled: The Evil of Sabbath Desecration.
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