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The Queen's Visit to a Mosque

It saddened many Christians that her Majesty the Queen made her first visit to a British mosque in the cause of inter-faith tolerance. On July 31 she entered the Islamic centre in Scunthorpe and went to the extent of removing her shoes to do so. Despite concerns expressed by what the press called "traditional Protestants", Buckingham Palace said she was determined to recognise the growth in religious and cultural diversity in the past 50 years.

Of course, Muslim leaders understand the importance of her visit for their religion. A member of the mosque made the point that she is their Queen and that her visit was a tribute to the 3.5 million Muslims in the United Kingdom. But we cannot agree that in order for the Queen to acknowledge her Muslim

We also believe that her action will be read by many as a signal that Christianity is not the exclusive religion it claims to be, that Christ is not the only way to God, and that all faiths are on an equal footing. Christ Himself states with crystal clarity and divine authority: "I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh to the Father but by Me" (John 14:6).

May the day speedily come when our Queen will no longer give recognition to multi-faith religion but will openly defend the faith she has solemnly pledged to uphold. Among the questions she was asked at her coronation was, "Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws of God, the true profession of the gospel and the Protestant reformed religion established by law . . . ?" "All this I promise to do," she replied. She then laid her hand on the Bible and said, "The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God."

Let us pray that she would be so helped. "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim 2:1-4).

NMR

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The Free Church and the APCs

One would think that a meeting of a body bearing the imposing title, "The General Assembly of the Associated Presbyterian Churches of Scotland and Canada", would attract much media attention. The APC Press Officer, who found it so easy in 1989 to move journalists to provide many column inches of publicity in the national press, must be experiencing hard times. It would seem that the only organ to report on their Assembly is The APC News!

From this source we discover that the Assembly "enacted and ordained" the establishment between the APCs and the Free Church of Scotland of "such a relationship as shall manifest the essential unity of these churches, their separate and independent jurisdiction being always preserved". These words, however carefully crafted, still savour of compromise and opportunism. They are found in the preamble to the "mutual eligibility" agreement which provides, among other things, for recognising "as to status Ordained Ministers, Probationers and Elders of the Free Church of Scotland as if they were their own; and the Ministers, Probationers and Elders of that Church shall thus be eligible for Call/transfer by any Congregation of this Church as if they were already Ministers, Probationers or Elders of this Church".

In view of the tense relationship between the Free Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), we find it odd, to say the least, that delegates from both these bodies were present and spoke at this Assembly. One would think that the "mutual eligibility" terms should have excluded the Rev A I MacIver, the Free Church (Continuing) delegate, whereas the Rev John MacLean, the Free Church representative, would have been cordially embraced! We wonder if the fact that they were photographed separately has any significance? It is remarkable that the Free Church (Continuing), who claim to be the true Disruption Church, in the resumé of their history found on the internet, do not even mention the 1893 separation. The Free Church, also making the same claim, regard this separation as unnecessary and even schismatic! How inconvenient it must be to all concerned that we exist!

We are glad that, by the grace of God, the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, to which, we believe, the constitution of the Disruption Free Church of Scotland was entrusted in 1893, is not involved in these ecclesiastical manoeuvrings. We are happy to remain "separated brethren" until the Spirit shall be poured out from on high. Not till then, as the Rev Neil Cameron expressed it, will the shattered fragments of the Church of Christ in Scotland be gathered together in one body. Until then our watchword will, we hope, continue to be: "Let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them".

JM

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Blasphemy Law Proposals

"The House of Lords has set up a committee which is expected to recommend the abolition of the law against blasphemy and its replacement by a new offence of inciting religious hatred," reports Christian Voice, which encourages Christians to e-mail the committee, requesting that the law be retained as it is.

In 1995, the veteran anti-Christian campaigner Lord Avebury, a Buddhist, brought in a Blasphemy (abolition) Bill, which was defeated. He has reworked it into a new Religious Offences Bill, and has added the "religious hatred" provisions which the House of Lords threw out of the Government's Terrorism Bill. His new Bill was given a Second Reading by the House of Lords in January, but the Bill has been put on the Parliamentary waiting list, while the 12-strong Select Committee considers the matter.

It is not too late for individuals or churches to make a submission. The key point to stress is, as Christian Voice states, that blasphemy is not so much an offence against Christians or the Church as an offence against God Himself. The address to write to is: The Clerk of the Select Committee on Religious Offences, Committee House, House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW. E-mail: reloff@parliament.uk. A briefing paper may be obtained from Christian Voice, PO Box 739A, Surbiton, KT6 5YA.

NMR

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European Law Threatens Christian Publications

The Europe correspondent of the English Churchman reports that "the day when Christian literature could be banned in Britain has come several steps closer following the European Parliament's support for a report proposing to punish the publication and distribution of 'racist' or 'xenophobic' material across the EU". "Racism" would be held to include being "averse to individuals or groups" based on one's religious beliefs. The new offences are defined as "public dissemination or distribution of tracts, pictures, or other material containing expression of racism or xenophobia", and national laws to implement the EU Council of Ministers' decision would have to be enacted in member countries no later than 30 June 2004.

The report recommended that the manufacture, distribution and private possession of "racist and xenophobic material" should be punishable throughout the European Union by jail sentences of between six months and two years, and that legislation must cover material on websites and private communications by e-mail. The English Churchman says that "Christian literature is considered to be highly vulnerable to prosecution under these draconian laws" and adds that, under such legislation, many of Christ's strictures of the Pharisees would probably have been punishable by imprisonment.

At the very least, the above information should send us to our knees, if we have a due appreciation of the preciousness of our religious and civil freedoms. "Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in Thy sight. Put them in fear, O Lord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men" (Ps 9:19,20).

A briefing paper on this proposed law, with specific reference to possible problems for Christians, is available free from Mr Tony Bennett, 66 Chippingfield, Harlow, Essex CM17 ODJ (tel 01279 635789).

NMR