It is now fifty-six years since the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland came into existence as a separate and distinct branch of the visible Church of Christ in Scotland. For various reasons our Church is more widely known to-day, to the outside world, than say, thirty years ago. The activities of those who have been all along unfriendly to our testimony, and others who have more recently become so, have partly contributed to this, as also a constant and public witness by the Church on the side of the Inspired Word of God and what is embraced within “the faith once delivered to the saints,” in face of serious back-sliding in the midst of the land. Those who aver that we estimate the quality of our adherence to our professed standards and practices as being well nigh perfect, and that in this we are pharisaical, do so either in ignorance of the Free Presbyterian Church or with a competent knowledge of what is really true while under the influence of an unspiritual motive. The Jews were actuated by envy when they pursued the course they did in their treatment of the Messiah. The Church militant is treated, in measure, like her divine Master, at times. No foolish and groundless claims to personal or denominational perfection shall be made here. But we do affirm that we strive, sensible of the need of heavenly aid, to adhere to the faith and practices of the true, living Church of Christ since the apostolic age, and as that faith and those practices are exhibited in the Scriptures.
We stand by exactly the same God-given principles as were conserved for us, in the most merciful providence of God, through the instrumentality of the late Rev. D. Macfarlane, when he protested in the Free Church Assembly, in May, 1893. His protest took effect and fulfilled its then blessed purpose immediately it was tabled, with a view to cutting apart from error and the conserving of the truth of God’s Word. Mr Macfarlane’s protest there and then separated him and all who adhered to him, from the then Free Church. The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland has held by this essential and straightforward view until the present day, there being no dissentient voice in our midst on this point during a period of forty-five years, that is prior to 1938. And the Church has surely the right, in it’s own house, to determine that this view shall continue to be held within it’s borders. We are not so simple as to assume that every person who may have been within our borders, could be “forced” to continue to accept the Church’s view on the matter after the prolonged debate upon the question which was foisted upon us. But we do claim the appropriate degree of understanding regarding a situation, as to recognise that the Church’s new critics could not be permitted to disturb her internal peace indefinitely, and also that there is freedom for such in Scotland to go their own way, however reluctantly or willingly.
Our Church, as such, stands aloof from those who profess Christianity but who are unsound in doctrine, invariably leading to conduct prejudicial to the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ministers, office-bearers and members of other Churches who care for the theatre, cinema, dances, concerts, the sports stadium, laxity regarding Sabbath observance and a host of other worldly ways; who extinguish the distinction between the Church and the world, and yet continue to enjoy the approbation of their Church Courts, need not be surprised, if we desire to keep a separate position from their respective denominations. This surely is not pharisaism. In a generation in which there are more than enough temptations besetting the Christian, seeking to turn him aside from the paths of righteousness without his deliberately joining hands with the world in their vain practices, it behoves those who would honour Christ to register their strong disapproval of the form of godliness which is accompanied by a denial of its power.
Then the Free Presbyterian Church stands confronted with rivals in the form of congregations at Chesley in Canada, Inverness and Glasgow, composed of former Free Presbyterians, and each group charging the Church with different departures from the principles they consider we ought to hold. They have each claimed to be the only true and faithful Free Presbyterians as distinct from our Church. But none of these congregations have any moral or legal right to use the designation Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. They neither belong to, nor are they in any way recognised by our Church; which alone bears and can claim the aforesaid title, inasmuch as our Constitution, from the beginning, has remained unbroken. Charges made against us and high-sounding claims assumed by these parties, should not move us from the duties devolving upon us relative to Christ’s cause and Kingdom.
We are obliged to stand fast, to assert, maintain and defend the whole doctrine of the Confession of Faith, the worship, practice, government and discipline of the Church, as derived from Scripture and handed down to us by our Godly forefathers and fathers. Discouragements there have been. Efforts to hurt and hinder the Church have not been lacking. The application of justifiable discipline has caused some to put a hand to such sad efforts. And yet the Church’s activities at home and abroad, continue as in the past with respect to the profession, preaching and practice of the Gospel of the precious Saviour, and in dependence upon His grace and guidance, and we trust, in harmony with His Word, “When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke xvii. 10).
Satan can pick no hole in that glorious garment, the righteousness of Christ. If we have the wardrobe of Christ, we shall be beautiful in that we have from Christ; we shall shine in His beams.—R. Stubbes.