‘Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?’
In these solemn days when the bands of Secular Humanism and Atheism have joined forces to destroy evangelical Protestantism, these words from Isaiah21:11 are particularly poignant. GB has become the hub of the global secularist movement; there is a systematic rejection of the authority of God’s infallible Word and a dangerous dependence on human reasoning. The secularist movement is said to have been the engine of ‘new labour’; certainly over the past few years secular humanism has gained great prominence politically and also in the media.
Against the backdrop of atheism, the religion of foolishness, secular humanism has found fertile soil in which to cultivate its pragmatic plants; when the existence of God is questioned, then secular humanism comes into its own; take God out of the equation and humanism begins to promote its religion of selfishness. While atheism is busy using evolution to throw God out of science and society; humanism is busy using secularism to establish man’s authority as predominant.
In recent times, the spiritual darkness, generated by atheistic secular humanism, that has started to settle on mainland GB, has begun to drift over the province of Ulster. Ulster has had the privilege of being the last bastion of evangelical Protestantism left in the UK, that is, until the dark shadows of error began to gather.
There were many political initiatives tried in Ulster over the years, to bring an end to sectarian violence and to end the ever spiralling cost of death and devastation. More recently, the Westminster and Dublin governments drew up a plan whereby the conflict in Ulster would cease; the first blue print was released as the ‘Good Friday’ or the ‘Belfast’ agreement. This agreement was top heavy with secular humanist philosophy and dangerously low on foundational Scriptural and Biblical principle and was met with limited success.
However, when the Belfast agreement was subjected to a little more secular air brushing at St Andrews, it became acceptable to the leader of Ulster evangelical protestants, Rev Ian Paisley. ‘Watchman, what of the night?’ Mr Paisley signed up to the agreement which is based upon secular humanist principles, and then took his seat with unrepentant terrorists in government. The present political settlement in Ulster has put the pragmatism of secular humanism above the principles of, truth, justice, holiness, mercy, charity, faith and love which are pillars upon which evangelical Protestantism stand; all this happened on the watch of Rev Ian Paisley. ‘Watchman, what of the night?’
What is more astounding is that the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster fully supports such a government and refuses to censor its ministers and office bearers who helped to implement it. Its’ all very well to protest against the leader of the nominal Christian rump, the Pope, but not a word of condemnation on those that advocate a political settlement based on secular humanistic ideals. ‘Watchman, what of the night?’
The night of atheistic secular humanism is advancing rapidly, obscuring the One that is ‘the way the truth and the life’ God has said; ‘I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.’ (Isa62:6-7) ‘Watchman, what of the night?’
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
Sunday 26 September 2010
When the enemy shall come in like a flood
‘When the enemy shall come in like a flood’
These words are taken from Isa59:19 and reveal enemy activity with respect to the fellowship of God’s redeemed people. Down through the ages the Reformed Faith in general and evangelical Protestantism in particular, has been subjected to much trial and testing; in some instances there have been times when the blood of martyrs has flowed. In recent times the foundations of the Reformed Faith have been exposed to enemy attack; every device imaginable has been hurled against the Foundational teachings of God’s Word, in order to frustrate and discredit its authority.
Now the forces of darkness are launching a two pronged attack against Biblical Christianity, with the intent of destroying the testimony of evangelical Protestantism in an evil pincer movement. The enemy has selected northern Europe as the theatre of operation with GB as the primary target. The English language, being the globally accepted means of communication, is the main medium of the evil ploy. It is ironical that GB, a Christian nation, a nation that spread the Word of God worldwide, has been the chosen battle field upon which the forces of darkness engage God’s redeemed people.
This land, where Godly men and women died in defence of their faith; this land that sacrificed so much for the civil and religious liberty of many in a worldwide context; this land that once honoured God through the preaching of the Gospel of free and sovereign grace; this land that has enjoyed the many and manifold blessings of God, is now on the verge of total evangelical Protestant collapse as the enemy launch this deadly two pronged attack.
The two pronged attack against evangelical Protestantism, comes from Atheism and Secular Humanism. Atheism has been developing the weapon of evolution for some considerable time; it is being displayed in schools, colleges, museums, on the radio, in the press and on global TV; now it is aggressively deploying this devastating weapon at the whole spectrum of life and declaring that there is no room for God anywhere. Atheism has declared war against Biblical Christianity in general and evangelical Protestantism in particular by bringing in a flood of evolutionary speculation.
The other part of the enemy pincer movement against evangelical Protestantism is manifest in the Secular Humanist movement. This aggressive and abrasive secular movement is the fuel that the political and press establishments run on; secular humanism opposes faith schools, resists religious education, insists on the implementation of equality legislation which ignores Christian values, champions human rights above the right of believing Christians, gives biased support to homosexual groups, supports civil partnerships and pluralism.
Secular Humanism, in step with atheism are contributing to the breakdown of British society at an alarming rate; family values are disappearing, they are no longer built upon God’s Word; law and order collapsing under amoral pressure; suicides rising as people are encouraged to look to self as opposed to God; the whole moral fabric of society is being pulled from the foundation of God’s Word and being built upon mere human values. It is sadly the case that GB has become the power house of the global secularist movement.
In the light of such an enemy attack upon the Reformed Faith, is there anything that can be done to stop the enemy? The only defence that God’s people have in a time of crisis is ‘The Lord of Hosts’, the God of battles; ‘If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land’ (2Chron7:14) Pray that God will raise up a standard against the forces of evil today. ‘When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.’
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
These words are taken from Isa59:19 and reveal enemy activity with respect to the fellowship of God’s redeemed people. Down through the ages the Reformed Faith in general and evangelical Protestantism in particular, has been subjected to much trial and testing; in some instances there have been times when the blood of martyrs has flowed. In recent times the foundations of the Reformed Faith have been exposed to enemy attack; every device imaginable has been hurled against the Foundational teachings of God’s Word, in order to frustrate and discredit its authority.
Now the forces of darkness are launching a two pronged attack against Biblical Christianity, with the intent of destroying the testimony of evangelical Protestantism in an evil pincer movement. The enemy has selected northern Europe as the theatre of operation with GB as the primary target. The English language, being the globally accepted means of communication, is the main medium of the evil ploy. It is ironical that GB, a Christian nation, a nation that spread the Word of God worldwide, has been the chosen battle field upon which the forces of darkness engage God’s redeemed people.
This land, where Godly men and women died in defence of their faith; this land that sacrificed so much for the civil and religious liberty of many in a worldwide context; this land that once honoured God through the preaching of the Gospel of free and sovereign grace; this land that has enjoyed the many and manifold blessings of God, is now on the verge of total evangelical Protestant collapse as the enemy launch this deadly two pronged attack.
The two pronged attack against evangelical Protestantism, comes from Atheism and Secular Humanism. Atheism has been developing the weapon of evolution for some considerable time; it is being displayed in schools, colleges, museums, on the radio, in the press and on global TV; now it is aggressively deploying this devastating weapon at the whole spectrum of life and declaring that there is no room for God anywhere. Atheism has declared war against Biblical Christianity in general and evangelical Protestantism in particular by bringing in a flood of evolutionary speculation.
The other part of the enemy pincer movement against evangelical Protestantism is manifest in the Secular Humanist movement. This aggressive and abrasive secular movement is the fuel that the political and press establishments run on; secular humanism opposes faith schools, resists religious education, insists on the implementation of equality legislation which ignores Christian values, champions human rights above the right of believing Christians, gives biased support to homosexual groups, supports civil partnerships and pluralism.
Secular Humanism, in step with atheism are contributing to the breakdown of British society at an alarming rate; family values are disappearing, they are no longer built upon God’s Word; law and order collapsing under amoral pressure; suicides rising as people are encouraged to look to self as opposed to God; the whole moral fabric of society is being pulled from the foundation of God’s Word and being built upon mere human values. It is sadly the case that GB has become the power house of the global secularist movement.
In the light of such an enemy attack upon the Reformed Faith, is there anything that can be done to stop the enemy? The only defence that God’s people have in a time of crisis is ‘The Lord of Hosts’, the God of battles; ‘If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land’ (2Chron7:14) Pray that God will raise up a standard against the forces of evil today. ‘When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.’
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
If the foundations be destroyed
‘If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?’
These are familiar words, from Psalm 6 verse 3; perhaps they are most appropriate with regard to the systematic destruction of Biblical Christianity, globally, today. God’s Word declares; ‘For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.’ (1Cor3:11) The person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only foundation upon which any person can build for eternity; this foundational teaching is what is under severe attack at present.
The Reformed faith is foundational to evangelical Protestantism; it is upon this foundation that the reformers and martyrs built their testimonies; the legacy of which has been a means of blessing to many down through the years. The Reformed Faith has declared the foundational truths of Christian separatist doctrine upon which successive generations of believers have built to the glory of God and for the good of mankind.
Such a great foundation has been beneficial to Christians and non Christians alike; upon this foundation the pillars of truth, righteousness, holiness, justice, mercy, charity, peace, love and faith, all stand to the glory of Almighty God. When the foundation of God’s Word is respected in society, this is a mighty force for good and a strong defence against evil and sin.
Many and varied have been the attacks against the foundational truths of evangelical Protestantism; in the main they have come from the hub of nominal Christianity (Christianity in name only but void of substance and reformed doctrine) Space does not permit me to elaborate at present, suffice to highlight a few; modernism, liberalism, resurgent Catholicism, charismatic movement, neo Pentecostalism, ecumenism, new age movement, a plethora of cults and the emerging church. These have all contributed to the discrediting of evangelical Protestantism and have exposed the foundations to enemy attack.
The foundational principles of evangelical Protestantism have been besieged from within the Citadel of Christendom itself; where nominal Christians have fought to gain concessions from born again believers of the Reformed Faith; this has led to compromise from some. Consequently, some evangelical Protestants have responded by protesting only against the errors of nominal Christianity; the result of which is to invite the enemy to attack what it sees as a divided, discredited and unstable Christianity.
The foundations of evangelical Protestantism are now exposed to and are being subjected to the most violent and sustained attack of all time; the forces of darkness and delusion have ordered a pincer movement to the destruction of Biblical Christianity.
It is time for those that are saved by grace alone, through faith alone to earnestly consider the situation that faces us; do we recognise the enemy? Are we prepared to defend the faith once delivered unto the saints? Do we have the desire to put on the whole armour of God, and go out to face the foe, being strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man? Will another generation recognise us as defenders of the faith? Are we willing to stand in the gap and make up the hedge as did the reformers and martyrs? Will we be willing in the day of His power?
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
These are familiar words, from Psalm 6 verse 3; perhaps they are most appropriate with regard to the systematic destruction of Biblical Christianity, globally, today. God’s Word declares; ‘For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.’ (1Cor3:11) The person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only foundation upon which any person can build for eternity; this foundational teaching is what is under severe attack at present.
The Reformed faith is foundational to evangelical Protestantism; it is upon this foundation that the reformers and martyrs built their testimonies; the legacy of which has been a means of blessing to many down through the years. The Reformed Faith has declared the foundational truths of Christian separatist doctrine upon which successive generations of believers have built to the glory of God and for the good of mankind.
Such a great foundation has been beneficial to Christians and non Christians alike; upon this foundation the pillars of truth, righteousness, holiness, justice, mercy, charity, peace, love and faith, all stand to the glory of Almighty God. When the foundation of God’s Word is respected in society, this is a mighty force for good and a strong defence against evil and sin.
Many and varied have been the attacks against the foundational truths of evangelical Protestantism; in the main they have come from the hub of nominal Christianity (Christianity in name only but void of substance and reformed doctrine) Space does not permit me to elaborate at present, suffice to highlight a few; modernism, liberalism, resurgent Catholicism, charismatic movement, neo Pentecostalism, ecumenism, new age movement, a plethora of cults and the emerging church. These have all contributed to the discrediting of evangelical Protestantism and have exposed the foundations to enemy attack.
The foundational principles of evangelical Protestantism have been besieged from within the Citadel of Christendom itself; where nominal Christians have fought to gain concessions from born again believers of the Reformed Faith; this has led to compromise from some. Consequently, some evangelical Protestants have responded by protesting only against the errors of nominal Christianity; the result of which is to invite the enemy to attack what it sees as a divided, discredited and unstable Christianity.
The foundations of evangelical Protestantism are now exposed to and are being subjected to the most violent and sustained attack of all time; the forces of darkness and delusion have ordered a pincer movement to the destruction of Biblical Christianity.
It is time for those that are saved by grace alone, through faith alone to earnestly consider the situation that faces us; do we recognise the enemy? Are we prepared to defend the faith once delivered unto the saints? Do we have the desire to put on the whole armour of God, and go out to face the foe, being strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man? Will another generation recognise us as defenders of the faith? Are we willing to stand in the gap and make up the hedge as did the reformers and martyrs? Will we be willing in the day of His power?
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
Tuesday 14 September 2010
From Protestant Betrayal to Pope Bashing
The Papal state visit has provided a perfect platform for The Free Presbyterian Church to reunite and to refocus; it is time to roll out the cannons for a bit of Pope bashing. Rev Ian Paisley is heading up a Free Presbyterian delegation which will travel to Scotland and protest against the Papal visit; the presbytery has released a statement exposing the errors of Roman Catholicism; a pamphlet has also been published, which examines Roman Catholicism in the light of scripture. There can be no mistaking, the battle lines have been drawn; but why all the fuss now?
Could it be that this platform of convenience is just what is needed to stitch up the deep divisions that have appeared in Free Presbyterianism since the political and religious sell-out that brought the terrorist inclusive government into existence? Could this be the physiological moment to plaster up the gaping cracks in Paisley’s church? Remember it was Rev Ian Paisley that sat down with unrepentant terrorists in government; it was this once man of God that negotiated with a Prime Minister that has confessed to having stretched the truth to breaking point. Could it be that there is an attempt to cover over past blunders with a bit of Pope bashing.
Evangelical Protestants have been betrayed, they have been deceived by their own leadership; people that prayed and fasted for the preservation of God fearing and God honouring government, have been led down badly by the very people that they once prayed for and supported. The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster can rant against Roman Catholicism when it suits, but they have not condemned the unscriptural and immoral terrorist inclusive government that their own ministers helped implement and subsequently supported. No amount of Pope bashing can ever cover over these deep scars; what is the point of turning from betraying one section of society to set about beating another.
While the errors of Roman Catholicism must be exposed by the faithful preaching of the gospel of Christ; this does not mean that evangelical Protestants can be treated like an old rag doll, cast down one day and lifted up another.
Rev Mervyn Cotton
Could it be that this platform of convenience is just what is needed to stitch up the deep divisions that have appeared in Free Presbyterianism since the political and religious sell-out that brought the terrorist inclusive government into existence? Could this be the physiological moment to plaster up the gaping cracks in Paisley’s church? Remember it was Rev Ian Paisley that sat down with unrepentant terrorists in government; it was this once man of God that negotiated with a Prime Minister that has confessed to having stretched the truth to breaking point. Could it be that there is an attempt to cover over past blunders with a bit of Pope bashing.
Evangelical Protestants have been betrayed, they have been deceived by their own leadership; people that prayed and fasted for the preservation of God fearing and God honouring government, have been led down badly by the very people that they once prayed for and supported. The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster can rant against Roman Catholicism when it suits, but they have not condemned the unscriptural and immoral terrorist inclusive government that their own ministers helped implement and subsequently supported. No amount of Pope bashing can ever cover over these deep scars; what is the point of turning from betraying one section of society to set about beating another.
While the errors of Roman Catholicism must be exposed by the faithful preaching of the gospel of Christ; this does not mean that evangelical Protestants can be treated like an old rag doll, cast down one day and lifted up another.
Rev Mervyn Cotton
Protest or Pretext
Rev Ian Paisley and Rev Ron Johnstone are heading up a Free Presbyterian protest against the Pope’s visit to Edinburgh; presently,the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster has printed a pamphlet examining Roman Catholicism in the light of scripture. This is what many in the Reformed faith expect of evangelical Protestants; taking every opportunity to expose error, while at the same time preaching the glorious gospel of Christ.
The problem is that there appears to be a pretext here; how can these church leaders go to protest against a Papal state visit, without firstly and unequivocally condemning the unscriptural and immoral circumstance of terrorist inclusive government at home. Before condemning and upbraiding the errors of Roman Catholicism, what about addressing the betrayal and sell-out of Ulster evangelical Protestants; people that prayed for the preservation of their civil and religious liberty; people that signed a covenant to love the things that Christ loves and to hate the things that Christ hates. This is where the urgent need is; these are the people that have been abandoned and betrayed.
A protest against a political sell-out, and against the compromising of a separatist evangelical protestant testimony at home, would be better served, than a pretext against the errors of Roman Catholicism. What is the point of protestant church leaders taking a bash at Popery when the foundations of the Reformed Faith are left exposed to the worsening storm of apostasy?
Rev Mervyn Cotton
The problem is that there appears to be a pretext here; how can these church leaders go to protest against a Papal state visit, without firstly and unequivocally condemning the unscriptural and immoral circumstance of terrorist inclusive government at home. Before condemning and upbraiding the errors of Roman Catholicism, what about addressing the betrayal and sell-out of Ulster evangelical Protestants; people that prayed for the preservation of their civil and religious liberty; people that signed a covenant to love the things that Christ loves and to hate the things that Christ hates. This is where the urgent need is; these are the people that have been abandoned and betrayed.
A protest against a political sell-out, and against the compromising of a separatist evangelical protestant testimony at home, would be better served, than a pretext against the errors of Roman Catholicism. What is the point of protestant church leaders taking a bash at Popery when the foundations of the Reformed Faith are left exposed to the worsening storm of apostasy?
Rev Mervyn Cotton
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