Paisleyism -- 'Art thou the man of God'

Paisleyism

‘Art thou the man of God?’ [The Parallels]

These words are taken from 1Kings13:14; they were addressed to a messenger of God that came from Judah in the days of Jeroboam and Rehoboam; Jeroboam reigned over the ten northern tribes of Israel, while Rehoboam reigned over Judah and Benjamin in the south. Now Jeroboam had made two golden calves and had them placed in Bethel and Dan; he raised alters beside these graven images and consecrated priests ‘of the lowest of the people’ to serve in this idolatrous false religion. Such a system strikes a remarkable similarity with Roman Catholicism; a system of religion centred on incense burning, idolatry, having a sovereign and a spiritual leader in the one person; outwardly portraying religious symbolism but inwardly false and corrupt, as recent events have revealed to the entire world.

It was against this iniquitous system, that ‘the man of God’ was sent; he carried two sets of instructions from the LORD. Firstly, he was commanded to proclaim God’s Word against the false religious establishment at Bethel. In doing so, he did not attack the false religionists, even though the king had ordered his arrest; on the contrary, he showed mercy and compassion toward the people, which is demonstrated by his praying for the king. ‘The man of God’ took no bribe, accepted no hospitality, had no fellowship with the professional religionists at Bethel; as he discharged his duty, he remained loyal to his heavenly Master; he neither entered into debate nor discussion, he clearly proclaimed the Word of God, adding nothing to nor taking anything from. Moreover the LORD vindicated His servant, by showing signs following the faithful proclamation of God’s Word; the false alter at Bethel was rent and the ashes poured out. What an interesting parallel with the Papacy at present; the altar of false religion has been well smitten and the ashes of sex abuse scandals are pouring out at an alarming rate; the ashes of falsehood are pouring out; even the ashes of alleged corruption and money laundering are pouring out of the Vatican bank. This is what happens when God exposes false religions; everything comes out into the open, even though it’s been buried under seven hills for years. ‘Whoso covereth his sin shall not prosper’

The second part of ‘the man of God’s’ instructions was of equal importance; he was not to eat bread, nor drink water at Bethel; he was not to return by the same way which he had come. The instructions, on the surface would seem trivial; however they were the instructions of his Master and of his Maker; they were of great importance. At this point there arises another striking similarity in the passage, that between the man of God and Paisleyism; the first part of the instructions being carried out by the man of God parallels how Paisleyism proclaimed the Word of God against Papal error for decades. Their faithful ministry of God’s Word censored the errors of ecumenism and guided God’s people in the path of Biblical separation. Such an exposition of the Scriptures of truth has been clearly vindicated; God has smitten the Papal altar of false religion and now all kinds of ashes are pouring forth for the entire world to see.



Now the man of God’s error in not carrying out the second part of his instructions shows the humiliating failure of Paisleyism in recent times; they failed to recognise the old lying prophet of secularism and, like the man of God, have turned back contrary to God’s commandment. In the next blog, we will examine [The Place] where the question was asked; ‘Art thou the man of God?’

Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)