The Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism Crushed

The Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism .. Crushed 6

1Kings 21:15

‘And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.’

For Jezebel, the conspiracy had worked; the voice of protest was silenced and Ahab was ready to step into the vineyard of Naboth. In order for Ahab’s dream to be fulfilled, an entire household had to be destroyed; for Ahab to walk through the gate which led into Naboth’s vineyard, he first had to walk over the testimony of Naboth. Naboth had been no fool when he refused to surrender his heritage to Ahab; he knew only too well that the power greedy Ahab would bring in his friends as well. However, the opposition had been successfully crushed; Ahab along with his friends in government was set to take possession.

For Paisleyism too, the conspiracy had worked according to plan; voices that once protested against compromise and treachery were silenced. Good, saved and respected Ulster Protestant people, who had cared for the Vineyard of Protestantism were left speechless when Ian Paisley sat down with IRA men in government. Even those within the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster watched helplessly as their leader surrendered all of their cherished principles and recanted his former words. Paisleyism has crushed the hearts of Protestant people in Ulster, and farther a field, by conspiring to take control of the Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism.

It would appear that the secular wing of Paisleyism had been taught at the feet of Jezebel; they wanted the power and the position to lord over the Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism with their new found friends. They would stop at nothing, they would use any means to obtain their goal; opposition from whatever quarter would not be tolerated, the voice of protest must be crushed. As the secular wing of Paisleyism encouraged the party faithful to take possession of the vineyard of Ulster Protestantism in partnership with their IRA Sinn Fein friends, many saved people started to survey the cost.

Christian testimonies have been crushed; many lives have been lost; families have been divided and destroyed; friendships broken; homes broken up; jobs lost; businesses destroyed; communities pulled apart; lives crushed; and what was it all about? A power struggle, as to who would rule over the Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism; the price has been high indeed. In order for Paisleyism to gain control, the Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism has been crushed beyond recognition.

After stepping into the Vineyard of Ulster Protestantism, Paisleyism with their IRA colleagues, have set about uprooting the vines so that room can be made for the saplings of secular humanism. Anyone in the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster found protesting against Paisleyism has to be disciplined; their testimonies will be crushed and their places taken by a secular humanist herb. Church elders are being disciplined by their own sessions; this is not Presbyterianism, this is Paisleyism at work uprooting the vines. There is an instance in a Free Presbyterian church, where the oversight have refused to shake hands with some of the congregation; when the minister ordered his oversight to shake hands with these people they simply refused. Paisleyism is busy uprooting the vines; Why? Because, they have signed up to this folly with their Sinn Fein partners at St Andrews; they must implement cohesion, sharing and integration to guarantee success for equality legislation and pave the way for a shared future. The vines of Protestantism must be uprooted to make way for the secular herbs; the dark jack boot of Paisleyism is crushing Ulster Protestantism under foot.

Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)