Ulster – Part of a Christian country or of a Secular state?
Sometimes it is good for society to pause and reflect on its direction and attitude; no more so than now. The national audit office concludes that ours is a Christian country, as does our Monarch, Queen Elizabeth 2nd; our government and laws are predicated to the Word of God; as a nation, our moral values and principles are paralleled to the Moral Law comprehended in the Ten Commandments. In general, as a Christian country, our ethics reflect Motive, Standard and Purpose; all of these serve to reflect the glory of Almighty God.
However, there is a determined effort being made to secularise our nation and to remove the principles, values and morals of Biblical Christianity. Christian values are being discredited and derided; Christian practices are being challenged to the detriment of our civil and religious liberty. The existence of God is openly and publicly denied; Creationism is disdained and discriminated against. The time has come for careful reflection as to our position on whether we consider Ulster to be Christian or Secular.
Rev Mervyn Cotton.
Sunday 30 January 2011
Saturday 1 January 2011
Biblical Christianity in Crisis 3
Biblical Christianity in Crisis 3
Jerm 12:10-11
‘Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.’
As we have followed the text here in Jeremiah 12, the situation of God’s people then was little different to what we find ourselves in today. Frequently, Jeremiah is referred to as the weeping prophet; he was greatly distressed at the situation in Judah, backsliding, idolatry and secularism had left God’s vineyard desolate.
‘and being desolate it mourneth unto me’ There were others besides Jeremiah that were heart broken at the state of God’s vineyard. The voice of mirth had been replaced by the voice of mourning as the Distressed in heart and soul poured out their Supplications unto Almighty God. When some of God’s people recognized the error of their ways, when they came to understand how that God’s great name was cast down, it tore their hearts asunder. Here was a rending of the heart and not the garment; here is an example of God’s people lifting their hearts unto God and mourning over their great sin of backsliding. There was the spirit of humility and deep brokenness in Judah as prayer was offered unto God. What about our circumstances just now; Biblical Christianity is in a deep crisis, God’s name is cast down, His work has been discredited, His people are held in derision. This is indeed the time when the hearts of God’s redeemed people should break in pieces as we survey the desolation all around. Do we have that distress of heart that we are compelled to supplicate God’s throne of heavenly grace. ‘If my people, that 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.’
‘the whole land is made desolate’ The land that flowed with milk and honey was found a desolation through sin and backsliding of God’s people; the pastors had thrown down the walls and the vineyard was destroyed; in turn the destruction spread over all of the land. This is exactly what happens when the vineyard of God becomes Discredited, and then Shame covers the land. As in the days of Jeremiah; so too in our own day and generation; once our nation was exalted through Biblical Christianity, now it is covered with deep shame. When secular humanism is allowed to cast the Word of God from society, then national shame and folly follows.
‘because no man layeth it to heart’ In Jeremiah’s day there was a small remnant that cared enough to pray; there were some that took the spoiling of God’s vineyard to heart. Yes the people of the land did go into Babylonian captivity as the chastening stroke of God fell; but because there were those that took it to heart, there was mercy mixed in the chastening. After the exile the people returned and the Temple was rebuilt. Will you be one of the few that will lay it to heart today?
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
Jerm 12:10-11
‘Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.’
As we have followed the text here in Jeremiah 12, the situation of God’s people then was little different to what we find ourselves in today. Frequently, Jeremiah is referred to as the weeping prophet; he was greatly distressed at the situation in Judah, backsliding, idolatry and secularism had left God’s vineyard desolate.
‘and being desolate it mourneth unto me’ There were others besides Jeremiah that were heart broken at the state of God’s vineyard. The voice of mirth had been replaced by the voice of mourning as the Distressed in heart and soul poured out their Supplications unto Almighty God. When some of God’s people recognized the error of their ways, when they came to understand how that God’s great name was cast down, it tore their hearts asunder. Here was a rending of the heart and not the garment; here is an example of God’s people lifting their hearts unto God and mourning over their great sin of backsliding. There was the spirit of humility and deep brokenness in Judah as prayer was offered unto God. What about our circumstances just now; Biblical Christianity is in a deep crisis, God’s name is cast down, His work has been discredited, His people are held in derision. This is indeed the time when the hearts of God’s redeemed people should break in pieces as we survey the desolation all around. Do we have that distress of heart that we are compelled to supplicate God’s throne of heavenly grace. ‘If my people, that 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.’
‘the whole land is made desolate’ The land that flowed with milk and honey was found a desolation through sin and backsliding of God’s people; the pastors had thrown down the walls and the vineyard was destroyed; in turn the destruction spread over all of the land. This is exactly what happens when the vineyard of God becomes Discredited, and then Shame covers the land. As in the days of Jeremiah; so too in our own day and generation; once our nation was exalted through Biblical Christianity, now it is covered with deep shame. When secular humanism is allowed to cast the Word of God from society, then national shame and folly follows.
‘because no man layeth it to heart’ In Jeremiah’s day there was a small remnant that cared enough to pray; there were some that took the spoiling of God’s vineyard to heart. Yes the people of the land did go into Babylonian captivity as the chastening stroke of God fell; but because there were those that took it to heart, there was mercy mixed in the chastening. After the exile the people returned and the Temple was rebuilt. Will you be one of the few that will lay it to heart today?
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
Biblical Christianity in Crisis 2
Biblical Christianity in Crisis 2
Jerm 12:10-11
‘Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.’
Last time we looked at the two opening clauses of our text and considered how that today, ministers and pastors are Dismantling the wall of Separation and how they show willful Disregard for the vines. Such disgraceful behavior by the pastors in Jeremiah’s day preceded the judgment of God which removed the testimony into Babylonian exile; and such deplorable circumstance in Biblical Christianity will hardly go unnoticed by Almighty God.
‘They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.’ Sometimes we need to be reminded that Biblical Christianity does in fact belong to the Lord; it belongs to the Almighty, He it is that allows His people to labour in His vineyard. It is entirely wrong to imagine co-ownership here, the work is God’s. To turn the pleasant portion of God’s vineyard into a desolate wilderness, ministers and pastors have Discarded Christian principles and precepts over the wall and have supplanted the chaos of secular humanism. Rather than preaching the Word of God, there are certain ministers today that give a glory slot to someone in the congregation. By majoring on some human virtue, the preacher inflates the ego of his listeners, the flesh is exalted and the people are encouraged to come back again in anticipation that they too might get a mention. What about the fruit of the Spirit, ‘love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance’; these are what makes God’s vineyard a pleasant portion. The ministers of today actively encourage such Christian virtues to be supplanted by the base values of humanism. Secular humanist values turn a good Christian fellowship into a desolate unspiritual wilderness.
‘They have made it desolate’ When the testimony of Biblical Christianity is Destroyed; it then becomes a Spectacle of derision. Politicians as ministers and oversight members have made a mockery of Biblical Christianity; on the one hand they aspire to Biblical teaching, while on the other they support immorality of every type; they have no problem in using Christianity as a cloak, so that their political image is enhanced. Then there are the women ministers and elders; they advertise equal opportunities while disgracing the office of eldership. The unsaved have sneaked their way into pulpits and have left a trail of desolation behind; bringing the work of God into disrepute. Homosexuals and child molesters have caused Biblical Christianity to get a bad name. So called healing ministries, give to get, faith prosperity, the emerging church, neo Pentecostalism, charismania, Roman Catholicism, ecumenism, new age, secularism and humanism have all worked tirelessly to discredit Biblical Christianity and to turn it into a Spectacle of disdain.
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
Jerm 12:10-11
‘Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.’
Last time we looked at the two opening clauses of our text and considered how that today, ministers and pastors are Dismantling the wall of Separation and how they show willful Disregard for the vines. Such disgraceful behavior by the pastors in Jeremiah’s day preceded the judgment of God which removed the testimony into Babylonian exile; and such deplorable circumstance in Biblical Christianity will hardly go unnoticed by Almighty God.
‘They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.’ Sometimes we need to be reminded that Biblical Christianity does in fact belong to the Lord; it belongs to the Almighty, He it is that allows His people to labour in His vineyard. It is entirely wrong to imagine co-ownership here, the work is God’s. To turn the pleasant portion of God’s vineyard into a desolate wilderness, ministers and pastors have Discarded Christian principles and precepts over the wall and have supplanted the chaos of secular humanism. Rather than preaching the Word of God, there are certain ministers today that give a glory slot to someone in the congregation. By majoring on some human virtue, the preacher inflates the ego of his listeners, the flesh is exalted and the people are encouraged to come back again in anticipation that they too might get a mention. What about the fruit of the Spirit, ‘love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance’; these are what makes God’s vineyard a pleasant portion. The ministers of today actively encourage such Christian virtues to be supplanted by the base values of humanism. Secular humanist values turn a good Christian fellowship into a desolate unspiritual wilderness.
‘They have made it desolate’ When the testimony of Biblical Christianity is Destroyed; it then becomes a Spectacle of derision. Politicians as ministers and oversight members have made a mockery of Biblical Christianity; on the one hand they aspire to Biblical teaching, while on the other they support immorality of every type; they have no problem in using Christianity as a cloak, so that their political image is enhanced. Then there are the women ministers and elders; they advertise equal opportunities while disgracing the office of eldership. The unsaved have sneaked their way into pulpits and have left a trail of desolation behind; bringing the work of God into disrepute. Homosexuals and child molesters have caused Biblical Christianity to get a bad name. So called healing ministries, give to get, faith prosperity, the emerging church, neo Pentecostalism, charismania, Roman Catholicism, ecumenism, new age, secularism and humanism have all worked tirelessly to discredit Biblical Christianity and to turn it into a Spectacle of disdain.
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
Biblical Christianity in Crisis 1
Biblical Christianity in Crisis 1
Jerm 12:10-11
‘Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.’
The days of Jeremiah the prophet were characterised by backsliding among God’s redeemed people, and by a wilful disregard of God’s Word in the land. People in Judah at that time had grown wayward regarding the things of God; there was restlessness in the land, while some were questioning the authority of God’s Word, others had already rejected it and had turned aside to idolatry.
Spiritual corruption was rife and the Word of God was being disregarded and systematically removed from society. (Jer2:8) ‘The priests said not, Where is the LORD? And they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.’ These terrible circumstances in Jeremiah’s day were a prelude to exile in Babylon; they are also a fitting parallel to the Crisis in Biblical Christianity today.
‘Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard,’ Those that have the responsibility of feeding the flock and tending the vines have turned their attention to Dismantling the wall of Separation. Many church pastors and ministers are actively engaged in Dismantling the walls of doctrine and church discipline in order to make way for error in the church; the way is opened up for:- marriage of the unequal yoke, ecumenism, worldly entertainment, civil partnerships, homosexuality, ordination of women, removal of ladies head covering, secular editions of the Scriptures, political correctness, equality legislation, the social gospel, charismania, evolution, equal opportunities, politics, secular humanism, hypocrisy, cheating; not to mention a plethora of subtle doctrinal errors. Pastors and ministers are to be ‘watchmen’ ‘standing in the gap and making up the hedge’ around the work of God; they are not to be leading a demolition squad against the walls of separation which protect the Lord’s vineyard.
‘they have trodden my portion under foot’ Within the walls of the fellowship of believers are the tender vines; these must be protected from the winds of secularism and wickedness. This is the responsibility of the church oversight; they are to care for and support these tender vines. Today many pastors and ministers are Disregarding the vines of God’s people; rather than supporting them with the powerful Word of God, they are treading upon them by Superimposing the rules and values of men. Many of God’s people today are finding themselves under the boot of church discipline which is being interpreted by human values and prejudices. Ministers and elders are supposed to support and help God’s people, this is their high calling; it is morally wrong for them to walk over believers just to prove a point or to gain the upper hand. ‘they have trodden my portion under foot’ what an indictment this is against those that are found in church office and are guilty of superimposing the rules and values of men above the Word of God.
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
Jerm 12:10-11
‘Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.’
The days of Jeremiah the prophet were characterised by backsliding among God’s redeemed people, and by a wilful disregard of God’s Word in the land. People in Judah at that time had grown wayward regarding the things of God; there was restlessness in the land, while some were questioning the authority of God’s Word, others had already rejected it and had turned aside to idolatry.
Spiritual corruption was rife and the Word of God was being disregarded and systematically removed from society. (Jer2:8) ‘The priests said not, Where is the LORD? And they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.’ These terrible circumstances in Jeremiah’s day were a prelude to exile in Babylon; they are also a fitting parallel to the Crisis in Biblical Christianity today.
‘Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard,’ Those that have the responsibility of feeding the flock and tending the vines have turned their attention to Dismantling the wall of Separation. Many church pastors and ministers are actively engaged in Dismantling the walls of doctrine and church discipline in order to make way for error in the church; the way is opened up for:- marriage of the unequal yoke, ecumenism, worldly entertainment, civil partnerships, homosexuality, ordination of women, removal of ladies head covering, secular editions of the Scriptures, political correctness, equality legislation, the social gospel, charismania, evolution, equal opportunities, politics, secular humanism, hypocrisy, cheating; not to mention a plethora of subtle doctrinal errors. Pastors and ministers are to be ‘watchmen’ ‘standing in the gap and making up the hedge’ around the work of God; they are not to be leading a demolition squad against the walls of separation which protect the Lord’s vineyard.
‘they have trodden my portion under foot’ Within the walls of the fellowship of believers are the tender vines; these must be protected from the winds of secularism and wickedness. This is the responsibility of the church oversight; they are to care for and support these tender vines. Today many pastors and ministers are Disregarding the vines of God’s people; rather than supporting them with the powerful Word of God, they are treading upon them by Superimposing the rules and values of men. Many of God’s people today are finding themselves under the boot of church discipline which is being interpreted by human values and prejudices. Ministers and elders are supposed to support and help God’s people, this is their high calling; it is morally wrong for them to walk over believers just to prove a point or to gain the upper hand. ‘they have trodden my portion under foot’ what an indictment this is against those that are found in church office and are guilty of superimposing the rules and values of men above the Word of God.
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
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