BY A MEMBER.
THE Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland met on the 17th of May, 1949, and finished its annual business on Friday, the 20th. The Four Presbyteries were well represented by the ministers and elders. The work was made easy for the members because of the excellent, business-like method of the Clerk of Synod. Every item of business was arranged in the Business Committee, and when the Synod met in public, the Clerk intimated the order of business, and kept strictly to it to the end of that Sederunt. The Synod is not a debating society like a political Court.
It is strictly a Court of review of the work done during the past year, giving instruction, guidance and direction as to what ought to be done in the Lower Courts during the ensuing year. The Synod is the Supreme Court of the Free Presbyterian Church, which is, of course, far more authoritative than the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, because it is only a percentage of the Ministers and Elders of the Presbyteries that are allowed to attend the annual Assembly. Indeed, in recent years not many of those nominated to attend did appear in the Assembly. There was talk of introducing the Church Government of King James—permanent “Moderators” which, no doubt, would develop in the course of time into a form of Episcopacy; that is Church Government by Bishops. We do not think that the idea has died in the Church of Scotland.
The Free Presbyterian Synod of 1949 was very harmonious and brotherly from start to finish. It was obvious to an observer that the grace of witnessing in defence of the truth of God is very much alive in that body.
His Majesty the King was seriously and solemnly warned that any recognition of the Pope of Rome by any of the Royal House might be not only dangerous, but the consequence disastrous to the Throne. The same men sent a most loyal address to the King expressing their heartfelt attachment to the Royal House, Throne and National Institutions. This was done in the spirit of Knox and Henderson. First, loyalty to God and truth, and secondly, loyalty to the earthly king of the nation! That is the very essence of loyalty! Men, or churches who flatter kings or Governments when they do wrong, and walk inconsistently with their promises, vows, and solemn engagements are the enemies of kings and Governments. “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Prov. xxvii.).
It is a sure sign of spiritual weakness and open cowardice when the professed Servants of Christ flatter the potentates of this world when they ought to be by the Church of God exhorted, and warned to flee from the wrath which is to come. That is the awful danger of men in high places that they are not warned, rebuked, and admonished, and led in the truth of God. “Oh, he is the King, the Queen, the Prime Minister, the millionaire, the sheriff; leave them alone, do not dare advise or rebuke them if they go wrong, and if they do wrong they must bear the burden of their own sin and guilt.” That is a most wicked, carnal policy, and so dishonouring to God! It does not matter who, or what may be his or her station in life, they “must be born again” and that through the truth of God. If not, man shall perish for ever. It will not save or protect man or woman that they are in high honour, wealthy and strong. If they die ignorant of the mercy of God in Christ they shall go to a lost eternity! There are no Kings, Queens, Princes, Dictators, Popes and Archbishops in eternity, as such! These various orders end at death. Why then, if we love our King, should we not warn him when we see him going astray? But, as a rule, there is an “iron curtain” of flatterers about the persons of kings and queens that their true, and real friends will not get near them to warn and exhort them in love and faithfulness.
I noticed, last year in an English Protestant Magazine, an attack made upon the stern manner in which the Free Presbyterian Synod rebuked the conduct of the Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh while on
a visit to Paris. That same paper advertises all over the country what great work they are doing in defence of the “Reformation.” When it is a money-making business “minor” sins can be overlooked! The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland claims that she is the Reformed Church of Scotland, and therefore, according to the Act of Union between the two Kingdoms, is the legal heir of the Assemblies that ratified the said Acts between the Church and the Crown. If this claim is just, right and proper, she is in conscience bound to take notice of the public movements of the Royal Family. The present “Church of Scotland” is another organisation, different from the Church of Scotland that existed at the time of the Union of the two Kingdoms. It is the “Church of Scotland of 1929” which changed entirely from her former position by uniting with the United Free Church.
Let it be noted that it was not the United Free Church that changed her creed or Constitution, but the Church of Scotland, which change altered her whole relationship with the original Acts that Parliament had ratified recognising her as the “Established Church of Scotland,” and as the Church of Scotland reformed, and established by law. This Church of Scotland of 1929 can never lay claim on that position, relationship and national Establishment which she had from the Revolution Settlement, and Act of Union. That Scriptural Establishment was entirely changed by Parliament, and the Union of 1929 with the United Free Church. The present Church of Scotland is a “Voluntary Church,” and it is neither moral nor legal for her to say, seek, or at any time try to claim that she is the successor of the Reformed Church of Knox or Henderson.
The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland is assured by her adherence to “the Claims and Protests,” to be in continuity with the Reformed Church, and the sole representative of the Church of Scotland by Law Established with all the “Claims, Protests,” Acts, Constitution, Confession, of Faith, Government, worship, discipline, and practice of the Reformed Church held within her Courts, Creed and profession to be yet acknowledged as the one and only Church in this kingdom, which followed the Constitutional path, practice, Creed and Government of the Reformed Church of Scotland.
The Free Presbyterian Church is not a “Voluntary Church.” She is under a solemn claim and protest. All her office-bearers promise to assert, maintain and defend her Scriptural Constitution without the least regard to emoluments, manses or glebe. Indeed, no Free Presbyterian Minister, Layman or Missionary can demand salary or manse under the Constitution which he vows to assert, maintain and defend. He is under “Claim of Right,” and Protest against the State that deprives him of the emoluments that the State should bestow from the National Revenue to maintain the cause of Christ in purity and holiness in the nation. “For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.” (Isa. Ix.)
In 1921 the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church renewed her “Claim of Right, and Protest” of 1842-43 when the Fathers of the Church understood that the Church of Scotland was to change her creed and Constitution in preparation for the Union that took place in 1929. The Church by renewing her “Claim, and Protest” kept her garment pure and clean before the Head of the Church.
Parliament received the Synod’s letter, and, through the Scottish Office, courteously acknowledged the receipt of the communication which is on file in that Office for future use as a living witness to the fact that “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Prov. xiv.)
Let us again emphasise that the Free Presbyterian Church is not a “Voluntary Church,” that she holds the Constitution of the Reformed Church of Scotland, by Law Established intact. It is most important to bear this in mind, and to teach the youth of the Church in the principles of the Protestant Reformed Church. While the people who adhere to the Constitution, Creed, Confession of Faith and Establishment Principles of our Church willingly, generously and ungrudgingly support the cause of the Lord with their private substance; that does not alter the fact that it is under a “Claim of Right, and Protest” they do it. They know very well if the State feared the Lord, loved His truth and cause, they would not have to pay, as it were, double taxation!
The “Voluntary Churches” are not in the least concerned whether the State is a Pagan, or Atheistical, or what religion the State professes. Like Cain of old, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” He is not concerned how the State uses his money which he must hand to the State on request. He is a Voluntary. Whether the kingdom serves the Lord is “none of his business.” If the Pope or Stalin is king, and the Government Officials are all Papists or Communists, what is that to him as he is a “Voluntary.” His Creed does not allow him to lay any claims, morally or spiritually, to reform the State as he is not concerned what is the kind (if any) of religion the State may profess. He is a “Voluntary!” He will take scores of portions of Scriptures from their context to prove that his “Voluntaryism” is the most Scriptural of all Creeds, and he will pour the utmost scorn at the Scriptural recognition of National Religion.
The Free Presbyterian Church is looking beyond the present state of affairs. She believes that the time and the day is coming when there will be a National recognition of Religion in all nations in the purest sense that the Church of God has yet experienced. “For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He is the governor among the nations,” (Ps. xxii.). What can the “Voluntaries” look for; or the Church of England with her unwarranted “Confirmations” by Bishops; or the Roman Catholic Church with her Confession, Masses and Extreme Unctions?
The true Church of God is looking for the Holy Spirit and praying “may Thy kingdom come, and Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” That is the faith, hope and attitude of the Free Presbyterian Church. One of her ministers made a very spirited protest against the infidel teaching of the Professors of the Church of Scotland of 1929. He shewed plainly, in a masterly and scholarly manner, the awful curse of “modernism” in that “Voluntary” Church, and that her people have no redress. They have no Court of Appeal. They cannot bring these men to task, according to the Word of God, and discipline them. It is a “Voluntary” Church and the Professors are voluntaries in Theology, as well as in their profession. That is what they fought for, got it, and now act upon, their “freedom” of faith, profession and religion. The Word of God is not binding upon them either in Law or Gospel. Christ, His blood and righteousness is not a religion that will suit the “Modernist.”
He is above that in his own opinion. As one of the “Modernists” said that Christ was not “learned” to enable him to recognise the Lord as suitable to teach him! This was said by one of the “Doctors of Divinity,” and we are not quoting his exact words as they are too blasphemous to be repeated here!
The man is a “Voluntary!”
The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland is a living witness against the blasphemous teaching of the “Modernists.” The young of the Church may be tempted to conclude that their Church has no influence in the land to be a moral and spiritual force.
First of all; the principles embodied in the Constitution are divine and must have the moral and spiritual force which can convert and change whole nations as well as single individuals here and there within the Church itself. How then can any one conclude that her religion can have no influence in the land?
“The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the land of Pharaoh, King of Egypt.” (Deut. vii.)
How then can any right thinking man say that the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland is of no moral force or influence in the land? We know very well that some poor men think that it cannot be a righteous cause unless large numbers of unconverted men are following it. What of the little flock that followed our Lord? Were they not few in number? What moral influence had they in the land? When the Holy Spirit was poured forth who were then of moral force and influence in the land? The only moral influence and force some can see or understand is large numbers of sinners, men of wealth and learning, collected into one huge heap and, as they have no faith, light, or knowledge to see beyond the flesh of men, they conclude, in the absence of numbers, that it cannot be the cause of the Lord! What atheism! “Fear not, little flock; for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke xii.)
Rev. Finlay MacLeod gave a lucid and comprehensive report of his visit to New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States of America. It was most interesting to hear this report, and of the many friends of the cause of Christ in the various countries through which Mr. MacLeod passed, and how much they appreciated the gospel and the worship of God according to His Word, without the frills of hilarious hymns, organs and merry-choirs! It is a wonderful providence that this “little” Church is to be found in five continents—Europe, Africa, America and in the Antipodes. There is a fund in the same Church collecting money to send a Mission to Asia! This “little” Church is very Catholic, as the Church of Christ is in all ages. Mr. MacLeod has served the Church well and faithfully.
The Reports from the Rhodesian Mission were very encouraging. Here the Free Presbyterian Church has established a large Mission among natives that never heard the gospel till a missionary was sent out from this Church for the first time in the history of this native population. It has flourished with the preaching of the gospel of the grace of God. Rev.
John Radasi (Native) was not long among his own people when the Holy Spirit began to reveal to the naked Africans that they had need of Christ as their only Saviour. There is a son of the same John Radasi preaching among the natives now for a number of years. Rev. John Radasi was held in high regard with the European Officials, which is a rare thing because the “colour bar” is very strong among the “democratic officials!” There are many thousands of natives attached to this Mission, and some two thousand children in the schools, and many more could be in the schools if they had the means to open up more schools. It is obvious that, in this Church, there is a wide field for young men to labour both in Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and, let us hope, in the near future in Asia.
The Synod concluded its annual deliberations in the love of the gospel— “Let brotherly love continue.”