Protest against Papal visit by Free Presbyterians
I read this article in the Belfast Newsletter with interest and concern; interest as a former licensed minister in the Free Presbyterian Church and concern as a betrayed evangelical protestant. This intended protest from the Free Presbyterians would have been consistent with their separatist principles some years ago, but it is inconsistent with their perceived position at present.
The Free Presbyterian Church watched on as their former moderator, Rev Ian Paisley entered into a power sharing government, against his church’s principles on separation; they did not object when their ministers shared political power with associates of terrorism. The presbytery had no difficulty with one of their senior ministers’ fellowshipping with a former IRA commander and laughing together. The presbytery was silent when some of their ministers called on the Ulster people to support them in political coalition with people that they formerly described as the enemies of Protestantism.
Why does the presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church come out now to protest against the Papal visit, when one of their ministers had visited Archbishop Brady a few years back? There was no protest then. Why do they claim to be so concerned now about the Pope’s visit when they watch the Martyr’s Memorial minister receive a standing ovation in the parliament of a Roman Catholic state? What a spectacle of shameful reconciliation. Their claim to support and cherish the principles of evangelical Protestantism sounds a bit hollow, even in the ears of their own members, who say that their former moderator sold Ulster down the river to Popery and a united Ireland.
In order for any church to make a protest against what the Bible calls error, then that church must be beyond reproach itself. Perhaps, before they seek to protest against the Pope’s visit, they would make a public statement regarding their position with respect to their own ministers supporting and participating in terrorist inclusive government. Evangelical protestants should not be deceived with this proposed protest from a church that once was separate from ecumenical apostasy but now can have its members and ministers found in the unequal yoke of political coalition.
Rev Mervyn Cotton
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Rev. Cotton
ReplyDeleteRecently I asked FPC Minister, Rev. McClung, at an article entitled 'An attack upon our civil and religious liberties' posted at his blog 'The Sound of an Alarm',
if the FPC Presbytery had issued a formal statement to clarifiy precisely where their denomination stands with respect to murderers in government and/or the present terrorist-inclusive Stormont administration?
Rev. McClung answer was “Yes”. I then asked him if he might replicate it at his blog for the benefit of his readers and he responded as follows:
“Sorry, the 'comment section' doesn't have the facility to attach documents.”
In 1998, FPC minister, Ivan Foster points out in his article entitled 'Power-sharing with Murderers – Right or Wrong' that:
“On May 20th, 1998, the General Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster was associated with an advert in the local press, calling on all to say NO" in the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement. It was signed by most if not all of the then ministers of the Free Presbyterian church. . . .
"The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster recognising the Bible as our sole rule of faith and practice — vehemently opposes the recent April Agreement (the Good Friday Agreement). Our opposition to the Agreement stems from the fact that it is unscriptural, un-ethical and immoral. Another part of that 1998 advert reads: “We the undersigned, having professed faith in Christ as our Lord and Saviour and bound in conscience by the infallibility of the Word of God, declare the truth that governments have divinely been given the power of the sword.
for the punishment of evil doers, and the power of protection for the praise of them that do well. The Agreement flies in the face of Holy Scripture and punishes those that do well and praises those that are evil doers. We protest against this outrage.”
Romans 13:3-4.”
The advert ended with a call: “The above individuals are all Protestant ministers, office bearers or church workers convinced of the immoral and anti-biblical nature of „The Agreement. On May 22nd we believe it is right to vote: 'NO'.”
Dr. Ian Paisley was the prime mover in getting the Free Presbyterian Church to agree to the 1988 Solemn Covenant and the placing of the Presbytery statement in the1998 advertisement which called for the rejection of power-sharing with murderers, and, to his hon-our, the chief author of both documents. The Agreement of St Andrews and the Good Friday Agreement have at their heart the un-scriptural principle of placing unrepentant murderers in government. The quotation from Romans 13:3-4 declares Gods view of murderers in government. On this basis alone this new agreement demands the same rejection of every Christian as did the 1998 agreement."
(Link: http://www.ivanfoster.net/pdf/July0701.pdf)
It would be most interesting to acquire the statement outlining the present position of the FPC Presbytery since Ian Paisley formed the present power-sharing executive with SF/IRA.
In Christian solidarity,
June / Ask Dr. Paisley
Rev. Cotton,
ReplyDeleteBy way of postscript . .
I share with you an excerpt from an article which I believe reveals the DUPlicitous nature of Ian Paisley entitled:
'Religion and Violence: The Case of Paisley and Ulster Evangelicals'
(Source: The Irish Association
Link: http://www.irish-association.org/archives/stevebruce11_oct03.html)
Excerpt
“ . . . .although Paisley's desire to be involved in unionist politics has religious origins, the grounds for his political actions like his mandate are secular.
Although he occupies the roles of church leader and political party leader and has skilfully used the former to advance the latter, he acts out each as if it were separate from the other. In that sense he accepts the division of church and state that characterises the society in which he operates.”
As the author of this commentary (Steve Bruce) has well stated, the politics of Ian Paisley politics is not determined by his religion!
And whilst Ian Paisley and his FPC colleagues / ministers continue to preach the biblical principle of 'separation' to their sheep, and exhort them in all spheres of life, both in their private and public roles to live a life consistent with those principles, in accordance with God's Word, they hypocriticaly turn a blind eye to the blatant inconsistencies of their former Moderator showcased in his decision to enter into power-sharing with SF/IRA , a decision that has so dishonoured the name of our dear Lord & Saviour, and brought the collective witness of the professing church of Jesus Christ into disrepute, while leaving the witness of the FPC thoroughly compromised.
*******
A word in season for the FPC . .
"For the congregation of the hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery." (Job. 15:34)
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked:"
In Christian solidarity,
June / Ask Dr. Paisley (2 Cor. 6:17-18)