The Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism .. Cared For

The Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism .. Cared For

1Kings 21:1 ‘Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel’

Naboth, as the husbandman, cared for his vineyard; as such he would have been prominent in Jezreel; he would have been held in high regard in the community as one that genuinely cared about a future harvest. Interestingly the name ‘Naboth’ means prominence; while the name ‘Jezreel’ means God sows. By adding these two names together, the idea of Naboth occupying a position of prominence in the place where God sows, takes shape. Naboth’s vineyard had been handed down through the various generations, now it was his responsibility to care for the heritage of his fore fathers. The time had come for Naboth to care for the vineyard in the town of Jezreel; it was now his responsibility to ensure that the vineyard would produce fruit.

Down through the centuries the Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism has been cared for by many and varied Protestant leaders; although differing in style and appearance, they all had the same task in hand; that was to care for the flock of God represented by the branches of the ‘true vine’. (Jhn15:1 &:5) ‘I am the true vine’ ‘ye are the branches’ They were brought to the place of prominence so as to care for that which God had sown; it was their duty to care for the Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism.

In the natural sense, the husbandman cared for the vineyard; he would have ensured that the wall was secure; he would have been diligent in his care for each individual branch, tending to their particular need. The husbandman would have ensured that adequate support was available for the fruit laden branches; he would have watered and fed the vines. The husbandman would have pruned and tended the vines so as to eliminate disease; he would have rooted out the weeds and been watchful for wild growth; he would have cast out the stones.

Now in the Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism there has been much to occupy the attention of those that have had the responsibility of caring for the branches. The heresies of Arianism, Arminianism, Unitarianism and the Charismatic Movement, have all attacked the bulwarks of Protestantism. Many good church leaders have, in their day, stood in the gap and have made up the spiritual hedge about the vineyard of Ulster Protestantism.

Regrettably, there have been those in leadership that have not cared for Protestantism in Ulster; they have carried in the weeds of modernism, liberalism and secularism into their churches. Consequently the vines have been denied good spiritual food; they have grown wild in the climate of carnality; there is very little genuine fruit being borne. These unfaithful husbandmen have allowed the vines and branches to become diseased and barren through ecumenism; instead of wholesome fruit being produced, there are the false professions forced on with the fertilizer of emotionalism.

Protestant church leaders that once cared for the preaching of the whole counsel of God, have now left off preaching hell fire judgment against sin; they no longer uphold the sanctity of marriage; they accommodate civil partnerships; they no longer condemn homosexuality as sin; they deal in political correctness and deplore sound doctrine. They have left off caring for the vineyard of Ulster Protestantism and have taken up caring for the environment; they are more concerned about their carbon footprint than they are about walking with God. This careless attitude amongst some Protestant leaders in Ulster is causing Protestantism to be destroyed from within.

Churches are ordaining women into oversight and the ministry, which is contrary to the Word of God. (Titus1:6) speaks of an elder being ‘the husband of one wife’. Now equality legislation is placed above the authority of God’s Word and equal opportunities and rights win the day. In many Protestant churches, dress is casual and sometimes careless; women no longer wear head covering. Rather than preaching the Word of God, there is a nice little reflective talk about some abstract notion; old Psalms and hymns that have doctrinal foundation are discarded while an orchestra strikes up a racket of sentimental nonsense. Such a careless attitude will not go unpunished; God will treat carelessness with chastisement.
Isaiah 5 1Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)