Studies in the Westminster Confession of Faith - Introduction

Once a month since September 2010 at our midweek prayer meeting & Bible study we have been studying the Westminster Confession of Faith.

This and subsequent posts DV overtime on the blog will contain the notes which were handed out on each occasion.


An audio recording of this study can be listened to on the Church's SermonAudio page - click here

Introduction to the Westminster Confession of Faith

The Westminster Confession of Faith is classed as one of the subordinate standards of our denomination. 

The primary standard by which we judge all things has to be the Word of God. We stand for the old principle rediscovered at the time of the Protestant Reformation: Sola Scripture - the Scriptures alone. Believing the Bible to be the verbally inspired and infallible Word of God, we hold it to be the final authority for all our belief and practice. To use the language of the Shorter Catechism answer to Qu 2: The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. Therefore the Word of God must be classed as our primary standard.

The WCF along with the Articles of Faith of the FPC are classed as our subordinate standards. We adhere to the exposition of Scripture doctrine that is set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith [hereafter called W.C.F.] and the Articles of Faith of the Free Presbyterian Church. The W.C.F. & Articles of Faith derive their authority from the Scriptures. 

'Never be bettered' - What C H Spurgeon thought of the Authorised Version

In a sermon on the last words of Christ on the cross preached at the Metropolitan Tabernacle on Lord's day evening 25th June 1882 and found in Volume 45 of his sermons number 1644 C H Spurgeon makes a telling comment about the Authorised Version:
I would quote John Bunyan as an instance of what I mean. Ideal anything of his, and you will see that it is almost like reading the Bible itself. He had studied our Authorized Version, which will never be bettered, as I judge, till Christ shall come; he had read it till his very soul was saturated with Scripture; and, though his writings are charmingly full of poetry, yet he cannot give us his Pilgrim’s Progress — that sweetest of all prose poems — without continually making us feel and say, “Why, this man is a living Bible!”

The quotation can be read in its immediate context below:

Sermons preached in Newtownabbey FPC

Recent sermons preached on the subject of Worship:

1. Its Commission

2. Its Character [Primarily by our words]

3. Its Character Pt 2 [In spirit]

4. Its Character Pt 3 [In truth]

5. Its Components [Reading of the Scriptures]

6. Its Components Pt 2 [Adoration & Confession in Prayer]

7. Its Components Pt 3 [Thanksgiving in Prayer]

8. Its Components Pt 4 [Supplication in Prayer]


Recent sermons preached on the subject of Hell and Heaven:

1. The miseries of God's everlasting Hell

2. The miseries of God's everlasting Hell Pt 2

3. The glories of God's everlasting Heaven

4. The glories of God's everlasting Heaven Pt 2

Flattery, deception & bullying!!!

Peter Hain, a previous Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, has written a memoir. Extracts are being published in a number of newspapers.

The Belfast Newsletter has carried extracts concerning his time spent in Northern Ireland as Secretary of State. Peter Hain openly acknowledges the tactics he employed to bring about a political agreement. In shorthand he used flattery, deception and bullying.

Here is a flavour of what has been reported:

Third anniversary

This month marks the third anniversary of this blog. It was commenced in January 2009.

In that time 185 posts have been made and numerous comments and responses. Here are some details:

Most popular posts

Irish Presbyterian Moderator a Bible denier!

Rev Ivan Patterson, moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, speaking on the Sunday Sequence programme yesterday [22nd Jan] in response to being asked if homosexual people would be condemned to hell by God, replied: No I don’t believe that ... I have no reason to believe that this is the case.

A report can also be read in today's Belfast Newsletter. Click here

It is hard to comprehend how any man who claims to be a minister of the gospel can with such a cavalier attitude deny the plain teaching of the Word of God and argue that those who practice these sins must have a place within the church.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 clearly teaches that the practitioners of certain sins will not inherit the kingdom of God:
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.

A reply to Stafford Carson

Rev Stafford Carson, minister in Edenderry Presbyterian Church and former moderator, recently wrote a platform piece for the Belfast Newsletter on the Authorised Version. It can be read here.

In that article he attacked the Text underlying the New Testament and praised the English Standard Version.

Here is the synopsis of a sermon preached back in May 2011 on the English Standard Version, which he and so many other evangelicals so dearly seem to love.

The sermon can be listened to on Sermonaudio by following this link.

What is wrong with the English Standard Version

The English Standard Version, or the ESV as it is more commonly known, was first published, only ten years ago, in 2001. Since that time it has become quite a favourite among professing evangelicals, particularly among those of a Reformed persuasion who reject the Authorised Version position.

The ESV is promoted as following in a long line of succession to other Bible versions. In this line of succession are: 

[1] The Revised Version (1881–85) 

[2] The American Standard Version (1901) 

[3] The Revised Standard Version (1946–1971) and then 

[4] The ESV (2001). 

The ESV has subsequently undergone a minor revision in 2007. However, the publisher of the ESV has chosen not to identify the updated text as a second or revised edition; it is simply intended to replace the original ESV under the original name. At present, both revisions co-exist on the market.

James Fisher's explanation of degrees of heinous sins

James Fisher together with his father-in-law Ebenezer Erskine, wrote a very good explanation of the Shorter Catechism. Here is a pdf link to it if someone wants to peruse it.

Question 83 in the Shorter Catechism: Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?
Answer: Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

James Fisher's explanation:
Q. 1. What do you understand by some sins being more heinous than others?
A. That they are more abominable, hateful, and offensive to God than others are, Ezek. 8:6,13,15.

Q. 2. Are not all sins hateful, and offensive to God?
A. Yes; but not equally so, Matt. 7:3 Why beholdest thou the MOTE that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the BEAM that is in thine own eye?

Q. 3. How does it appear that all sins are not equally offensive to God?
A. From the different degrees of punishment that shall be inflicted in the other world, Matt. 11:22 But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. See also Luke 12:47, 48.

Q. 4. In whose sight are some sins more heinous than others?
A. In the sight of God, who is the best judge of the heinousness of sins, Job 36:9.

Q. 5. In what respects are some sins more heinous in the sight of God than others?
A. Some are more heinous in themselves, and some are so by reason of several aggravations.

Q. 6. What is it for sins to be heinous in themselves?
A. It is to be heinous in their own nature, though no other aggravating circumstances should attend them.

Q. 7. How are these sins, that are in their own nature more heinous than others, commonly ranked?
A. Sins committed more immediately against God, or the first table of his law, are more heinous in their own nature, than sins committed more immediately against man, or any precept of the second table. Likewise, some sins against the second table, are more heinous in themselves, than other sins against the said table.

'Peace and Safety' - then sudden destruction

In a follow up to the article on the woman and the ephah posted in December I have come across reference to a video on a number of blogs this past week. It is also on YouTube. It is another exercise in EU propaganda.

The video is a production by the European Young Socialists, who are extolling the virtues of European integration. I am not really interested in the ins and outs of the video and I haven't watched it through. That is why there are no links to it in this post. I am however very interested in the lyrics of the song that can be found here.

Here are those lyrics:

Verse 1

They say that we've got nothing in common 

No cultural ties to build on 

The project just can't work 

They say that nationalism will break us 

Conservatives will fight us 

But trust we really do care 

Chorus

And we shout what about Europe United? 

Peace and safety for all of the people 

Democracy, freedom, subsidiarity 

Federalism, the solution we've got 

Verse 2

They say we'll never work together 

To make our union stronger 

Let us say no! 

We'll build a Europe bold and new 

A democracy that's true Europe 

United as one! 

Chorus

Verse 3

We say the EU's a confusion 

Lacking a Constitution 

But we know what to do 

Reform now, we want to see enlargement 

Accept our major statement 

Europe united as one! 

Chorus

Chorus

Page views for December

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A plea for family worship

Below are the words of Robert Shaw in his exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith regarding the matter of family worship.

The words are to be found in his exposition of chapter 21, section 6 which reads:
Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is now, under the gospel, either tied unto, or made more acceptable to, any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed: but God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth; as in private families daily, and in secret each one by himself, so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly or wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God, by his Word or providence, calleth thereunto.

Robert Shaw says:
Religious worship ought to be performed in private families daily. This is a duty which the light of nature very plainly teaches. And the heathens will rise up in judgment against the prayerless families of professed Christians; for besides their tutelar deities, who were supposed to preside over cities and nations, and who had public honours paid to them in that character, they had their household gods, whom every private family worshipped at home as their immediate guardians and benefactors.

But the light of Scripture gives a more clear discovery of the obligation to this duty. It is recommended by the example of the saints recorded in Scripture; and good examples as really bind us to the duty as express precepts. We find Abraham rearing up altars wherever he came; and his attention to family religion was expressly commended by God, Gen. 18:19. We have the examples of Joshua (24:15); of Job (1:6); and of David, 2 Sam. 6:20. But we have a still more engaging example of family worship on record in Scripture than any of these, even the example of our Saviour himself, who, though he had no house of his own, yet he had a family, Matt. 10:25. Now we find him retiring from the crowd that followed him, and praying with his own family, Luke 9:18: "As he was alone praying, his disciples were with him."

The practice of family worship tends to promote even the temporal prosperity of families; for it is the blessing of God that maketh rich and prosperous; and what more likely way to obtain that blessing, than for a whole family to join in prayer and ask it daily of God? Prov. 3:33. Much more does family worship tend to promote the spiritual and eternal interests of families; while it is also the most effectual means to propagate religion from generation to generation.

On the other hand, the neglect of this duty will bring the curse of God upon families; for "the curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked," Prov. 3:33. How awful is that text, Jer. 10:25: "Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not upon thy name." Let the head of every family, then, adopt the excellent resolution of Joshua: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".

The woman and the ephah!

The euro currency celebrates 10 years since its introduction on 1st January 2012. To mark the 10th anniversary of its inception the European Central Bank has released a video.

This six minute exercise in propaganda commences with a computer generated image of a woman emerging from a Greek urn before turning into a real life woman. She then proceeds to walks across a series of bridges linking the continent of Europe together. The voice over commentary speaks of the european common heritage, history, shared values and achievements, and that Europe builds bridges and inspires hope.

To watch the video click here 

Quotable Quote!

Robert Dick Wilson [1856 - 1930] was for many years Professor of Semitic Philology and Old Testament Introduction at Princeton Seminary. He learned 45 languages, including Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, as well as all the languages into which the Scriptures had been translated up to 600 AD.

On one occasion he is reported as saying to his students:
Boys, I must admit there are questions that sometimes bother me when I read the Bible. This I can understand because I'm a sinner and my understanding is limited, so I'm not going to charge God with not being clear. I'm going to lay it to my own ignorance. But I will say this: after studying God's Word for over fifty years I have come to the conclusion that no man on earth knows enough to claim there is a single inaccuracy in the original Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.

Page views for November

A breakdown of page views for the month of November:

Page view by blog post

All time page views May 2009 - November 2011

A KJV Bible for every School!

In a very surprising but welcome move Michael Gove, the Westminster Education Secretary, is proposing to send out a King James Version of the Scriptures to around 20,000 schools. This proposal may only apply to schools in England and Wales but it is still welcome.

Hardly surprising either to discover that the secular lobby are up in arms about the suggestion. They cry foul continually when no tolerance is shown towards their ungodly ways but as soon as someone shows any degree of support for religion or spiritual things they rise up in opposition. This is rank hypocrisy yet it reminds us that the natural heart is indeed full of enmity towards God, Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, Romans 8:7.

However, the Daily Mail has this report:

A Bible is a thing of beauty: Gove to send one St James text to every school in move blasted as 'unacceptable waste of money'

To read more click here 

I trust indeed that Mr Gove goes through with his proposal and doesn't give in to the naysayers! 

Remembrance Sunday!

For The Fallen
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.


These words were written by Laurence Binyon. He worked at the British Museum before going to war, having studied at Trinity College, Oxford where he won the Newdigate poetry prize.

His best known poem is 'For The Fallen' written in 1914, most notably the fourth verse which is repeated at remembrance services over the country and adorns numerous war memorials.

The Prime Minister's favourite Bible verses

As part of the celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of the Authorised Version, the Prime Minister David Cameron has chosen his favourite Bible verses.

He chose Philippians 4:8,9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Read the whole article here.

If only the Prime Minister actually believed and practiced the teaching of these two verses then society would be the better off under the present coalition government.

These verses would rule out that which is immoral such as the recognition of sodomite marriage that the Prime Minister indicated he was prepared to go ahead with during his conference speech this year.

As is increasingly obvious this Prime Minister says one thing and does something else!

Unsuitable State Education

I was reading through the Core Syllabus  for Religious Education pdf document I found on the Department of Education [DENI] website.

Here is a screen grab:

This document highlights two areas that should concern every born again believer and especially every Free Presbyterian. One has been the case for some time. The other I believe more recent:

1. Religious Education as defined by the four main Churches [Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, & Methodist] and filtered through an Equality Impact Assessment is compulsory for every pupil in a state school. 

This means that anything approach the Gospel is flushed out of this syllabus. This is just an anemic, bland excuse for the Truth and a blatant exercise in ecumenism that is being taught to Free Presbyterians!

2. Equally worrying is that Relationships and Sexuality Education [RSE] & Citizenship Education is specifically said to include the teaching of respect for sodomy. By respect we all know they mean acceptance. 

How can this be right? I do not see how it can be right to oppose Sodomy on one hand and on the other live in a day when Free Presbyterians place their children under such teaching. A house divided against itself cannot stand, Matt 12:25. 

This is not the only reason for Christian Education but it certainly is one of them!

New blog!!

A new blog has been commenced by Rev Ian Brown, minister in Londonderry FPC, Clerk of Presbytery and also Convener of the Government & Morals Committee of Presbytery. It is designed to carry statements and articles about events and issues that come within the remit of the Government & Morals Committee of Presbytery. On many occasions statements are released to the press and media about these matters but never carried.

You will find the blog here.

Bookmark it and visit it regularly!

The folly of a Secular & Integrated Education

I have been asked to respond to the premise:

the removal of religious instruction from our school curriculum.

Here is a reply that I have sent:

The Word of God reminds us that there is really nothing new under the sun: The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun, Ecclesiastes 1:9.

This is very true with the realm of education and the place that the Word of God and religious instruction has within it. The present clamour for the removal of religious instruction from education is not a new thing. Dr Henry Cooke, the eminent contender for 'Christian education' in the mid 1800s, within the then Synod of Ulster, argued that any system of education that did not have the Word of God at its core and centre was not worth having. Furthermore, any system that had merely 'Scripture Extracts', acceptable and agreeable to all, was equally rejected by Dr Henry Cooke and the Synod of Ulster. You can read of his views in the biography written by his son in law Prof. Porter, entitled: "The life and Times of Dr Cooke."

Why should the Word of God be deemed so absolutely necessary within education? Consider that:

I. A secular education does not impart true knowledge or 

lead to true fulfillment and satisfaction in life 

Being recent converts to education, the State and secular thinking generally countenances no alternatives. Yet it must be remembered that before the State took on the task of educating children, churches and religious organisations were engaged in the instruction of the young. When kings and parliaments were covering the earth in death and destruction, it was religious groups, particularly Reformed Christians, who were seeking to raise the young with a semblance of education. Many of the universities such as Trinity in Dublin and Queens in Belfast were commenced by Christians.

Secularism may seek, with ever increasing narrow-mindedness, to close down all discussion of the possibility that we are not here by blind chance, the result of random processes, but have been created by God for a purpose.

A system of education that denies this possibility and argues contrariwise is not going to serve well the young people who pass through it. Secularism fears setting down Biblical creationism in the science classroom as an alternative belief about origins. The belief in evolution that lies at the heart of atheistic thinking is just that, a 'belief'. No different from the 'belief' in creation. A 1971 edition of the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin had a very interesting statement in the introduction:
"The fact of evolution is the backbone of biology, and biology is thus in the peculiar position of being a science founded upon a unproven theory - is it then a science or a faith? Belief in the theory of evolution is thus exactly parallel to belief in special creation - both are concepts which believers know to be true but neither, up to the present, have been capable of proof." 

This was written by Dr Leonard Harrison Matthews [1901-1986], a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Protest against Jesus Christ Superstar

A Free Presbyterian protest was held outside the Grand Opera House in Belfast on Saturday afternoon 5th November 2011 against the production entitled: Jesus Christ Superstar. Over 20 people took part in the protest. Other ministers in attendance were Rev. John Woods [John Knox Mem. FPC], Rev. Philip Gardiner [Carrickfergus FPC], Rev. David Priestley [Bangor FPC], Rev. Graham Middleton [Donaghadee FPC], Rev David McLaughlin [Carryduff FPC] and myself.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first production for the stage in Broadway of this opera whose lyrics were written by Tim Rice and the music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. 

Around 400 specially prepared leaflets highlighting the slanderous attack upon the person and work of Jesus Christ contained in this 'rock opera', were distributed to people attending the final day's performance.

After the leaflets were distributed a short service was held following the protest. After the singing of the hymn: I am not ashamed to own my Lord or to defend His cause, Rev. David McLaughlin (Carryduff FPC) led in prayer. I then spoke on John 5:22,23: For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Two opportunities arose during the protest to highlight our concerns to those involved in this production on the Grand Opera House.  One of the show's producers approached Rev. Priestley concerning the reasons behind the protest. When Rev Priestley objected to the content surrounding the portrayal of Christ's relationship with Mary Magdalene this Directer acknowledged that they had removed these scenes and replaced them with scenes from the resurrection. Another conversation took place with the chief Executive  of the Grand Opera House, who also took one of the leaflets.

Page views for October

Here is a breakdown of page views for the month of October

Jesus Christ Superstar - an utter blasphemy!!!

The 'rock opera' entitled 'Jesus Christ Superstar' is once again coming to the Grand Opera House, Belfast.

The Ulster Operatic Company is staging Jesus Christ Superstar to mark the 40th anniversary of the original stage production on Broadway in 1971. The Grand Opera House's website states:

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera that highlights the political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus. It is based loosely on the Gospels’ account of the last week of Jesus’ life, beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem, and ending with the crucifixion.

Jesus Christ Superstar was the first musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice to be produced for the professional stage.

This 'rock opera' is highly questionable, insulting to Christians and ultimately blasphemous to Christ.

Leaving aside the medium of an opera and a rock opera at that, when the name, character and work of our Saviour Jesus Christ is slandered, in the fashion that it is in this opera, we need to raise our objection to it. It would be a dereliction of duty to Christ to remain silent.

If someone slanders the name and character of our best friend we would be so rightly incensed that we would have to show our disgust and opposition to such a thing. In highlighting our opposition to this opera we are showing our disgust at those who slander the name and person of Jesus Christ.

Why Should we Study the Prophetic Scriptures?

This sermon was preached by Rev Wesley Iwrin, Free Presbyterian minister in Rutherglen, Scotland, at a Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony Conference at Brighton on 26th April, 1997.

There are reasons why we should give ourselves to know what God has said concerning the future, but, before we look at those reasons which compel us to give attention to this subject, there are some things which need to be said.

First of all, I want to stress the word ‘study.’ I am not talking about the reading of Prophetic Scriptures. I trust you do read your Bible regularly, day by day. However, it is vitally important, not only to read the Bible, but to study the Bible. You have probably been challenged by many preachers about the necessity of reading the Word of God every day. That is a valuable lesson and a most important thing for the Christian. Every day he should take time to be alone with the Lord, reading His Word to hear the voice of God.

But I want to go a step further than that. I want to impress upon you the importance not only of reading the Word of God, but of studying the words of Holy Scripture.

I have found in not a few cases, superficial views about what the Bible teaches, not only on prophecy, but also on other aspects of truth. It has come about because people have only a limited, or a very superficial, view of the Bible, They have read certain verses in the Bible and are familiar with them but they have not taken time to really think through and study for themselves, with the help of God, what these things really mean. And when views that are contrary to the teaching of Scripture are advanced, they are unable to counter them, because all they have done in the past is simply read the words and never thought what they really mean.

One reason that people do not really know what they believe or what the Bible teaches even on prophetical matters is that they have not taken time to study what God has said.

The Lord Jesus Christ said in John 5:39, ‘Search the Scriptures.’ This is a very fundamental injunction put to us by the Lord. If we are to search the Scriptures, it will demand effort, It will require application of our mental energies to this Book. We will need to make effort. We will have to take time. We should endeavour, under God, to determine what this Book teaches, what these passages really say. It is not just merely running through

The Psalmist said in Psalm 19:9-10, ‘The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold.’ The Bible is worth more than gold.

You will know a little about the various gold rushes that have occurred in the history of this world. Whenever gold was discovered in a particular area, there was a mad rush. Many people wanted to go to that area to be the first to get their hands on the gold. They were diligent. They searched endlessly. They put themselves to great effort to get their hands upon this gold that was to be found in the earth. They worked hard. They worked long hours. They worked with diligence, untiringly, in order to get just a little of this precious substance.

The Word of God is more precious than gold. How you and I should really search after it! How we should determine to get to know this Book! How we should use diligence and effort in order to understand what God has said in this Book. We need to study the Word of God.

Superficial and far-fetched views of prophecy prevail because people have not taken time to study the Scripture. Some really ludicrous and foolish opinions have been propounded because men have just read a verse and thought that it means something, and they have not taken time to study through what the proper teaching of Scripture is on this subject. They have just taken a few words and they have arrived at a wrong conclusion because they have not set themselves to study God’s Holy Word.

Let us then set before you some reasons why we should study the prophetic Scriptures.

Tent Mission in Templepatrick

Antrim, Ballyclare & Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Churches held a joint 60th Anniversary Tent Mission in Templepatrick. The Lord was pleased to bless with many visitors and souls counselled. Rev John Gray, minister in Enniskillen FPC, was the evangelist. 

Here are some photos of taken during the Mission:

Page views for September

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

Page views last month - 1,538

Pageviews all time history - 16,505

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. 

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A new type of 'Christian School'

Evangelical church application to set up new free school where it will teach creationism is approved

This is the headline from an article in the Daily Mail outlining the initial approval of a new Free School in England

Read the whole article here