Princess Diana takes her sons to see “The Devil’s Own”
SOME newspaper columnists criticised Princess Diana, rightly in our opinion, for taking her sons, Princes William and Harry to view the film “The Devil’s Own”, which sympathetically portrays the life and actions of an IRA terrorist and murderer. Not only had she not set a good example to her children, said her critics, but she took them to a film which was not intended by the censors to be viewed by anyone under the age of fifteen; and Prince Harry is only twelve. The Princess later issued an apology “for any distress that had been caused”.
One fact about this visit to the cinema which to our knowledge was not criticised or commented on by the press was that it took place on the Lord’s Day. That no one was heard to find fault with the Princess for this blatant Sabbath-breaking is a reflection of the nation’s low moral state; and as if God had not said, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy…” D. J. McD.
Homosexual priests in the Church of England
THE Church of England at the meeting of its General Synod in York this month, appears to be positioning itself to ordain sodomites to the ministry of the Word. It is reported that half of the Church’s bishops have knowingly licensed, employed or ordained actively gay priests, and that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Carey, has announced the setting up of an international commission to examine the subject.
Geoffrey Locke, chairman of the evangelical group, said that the Archbishop’s announcement indicated “complete defeat” for those opposed to
homosexual ordinations. Just such a commission in 1988 prepared the way for the ordination of women.
Although some warn of a massive exodus from the Church of England if the ordination of homosexual clergy goes ahead this seems unlikely, as the same fears raised over the ordination of women did not materialise. Only a few hundred left and some have since returned.
The general law is that the more the Word of God is ignored the easier it is to ignore it the next time round. The whole sad situation (was ever a word as misappropriated as ‘gay’ in this context?) is given poignancy and point by Isaiah’s inspired comment on the grace of God to His true Church, “Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and like unto Gomorrah,” Isaiah 1.9. J. R. T.
New Labour old sins
WHEN a new government is elected people expected some change for the better in their lives, but it seems that we cannot expect much from the present administration morally. Many were disturbed by the choice of an avowed homosexual Chris Smith, the Heritage Secretary, for a seat in the Cabinet.
The attitude of the Labour Government, led by Tony Blair, was made clear when a “Gay Pride” rally was held in London on Saturday 5th July. According to the BBC Radio Four News, the rally, which was attended by about 150,000 “gays” and “lesbians”, was addressed by Chris Smith, and also had a message of support from Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, read out to it.
Some of the “gays”, when interviewed, declared that they were “rejoicing in their sexuality”. What a deplorable sight in our capital city: sodomites rejoicing in their sodomy, and the Labour government making known its support for them!
But this is not a party political issue. We understand that the leaders of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties also voiced their support. And, according to the Times newspaper, William Hague is on record as supporting “gay marriages”. Need we wonder that, as God’s Word says, “the wicked walk on every side” when such men are leaders. D. J. McD.
Proposal to ban asylum between EU member states
THE principle of a nation giving asylum, even if only temporary, to the persecuted citizen of another country has been generally accepted for many centuries. In the Old Testament times, David, the future King of Israel, found refuge in Gath when persecuted by King Saul. In New Testament times, Joseph, the legal father of the child Jesus was told, “Take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt.” At the time of the Counter-Reformation, persecuted Protestants found refuge in Holland.
More recently in Europe the right to political asylum has been guaranteed by international law since 1951. But this may soon cease. The Spanish Government has proposed to the European Union that the Maastricht Treaty be amended “to establish the clear principle that no citizen of a member state of the Union may apply for asylum in another member state.” If implemented, a Christian in this country and persecuted by the state, for example, could not look to any EU country for a safe haven. UN protests have been unsuccessful in impeding Spain’s progress in pushing the proposal forward. ☐
The “feel-good factor”
SOME Conservative politicians have attributed their defeat in the General Election to the absence of the “feel-good factor”. We understand this to mean that people generally did not have optimistic views of their economic prospects. They feared that the rate of inflation would increase, the cost of living would rise, and they would not have the high standard of living they hoped for.
Is it not obvious that nationally we “mind earthly things”, and despise “the things of the Spirit of God”? Clearly, God is being forsaken by the nation when politicians and people give priority to material prosperity, and when they adopt the “feel-good factor” as their yardstick for true happiness.
There is in fact no reason for sinners to feel good, considering they are on the broad path which leads to destruction. Only an outpouring of the Holy Spirit will cause us as a nation to turn from seeking our happiness in “the things which perish with the using”, and to know that “one thing is needful”, even to have a saving knowledge of Christ. Having that we will have what Scripture calls the “good part which will not be taken away”, and then we will have reason indeed to feel good – to be optimistic in the highest and best sense. D. J. Mc D.
African Mission News
Zimbabwe
THE Rev. A. B. Ndebele has resumed his work officially, and during the last week of June was officiating with Rev. P. Mzamo at Bulawayo Communion. Mr. Ndebele has largely recovered, but is subject to severe fatigue when the work is especially demanding.
The staff in the John Tallach School have been exceptionally busy with the setting and correcting of mid-term exams. The Headmistress, Miss Marion Graham, hopes to go on leave early in August, and will leave the running of the School in the capable hands of Miss Katie Macaulay. Miss Etta MacLennan has agreed to go out to teach there during Miss Graham’s absence. We hear that a
young Dutchman, Mr. Benschop, is awaiting a permit to allow him also to go out to teach in the School. We trust a few more teachers, suitably qualified, will offer their services. The school has to implement a new system, set up for secondary schools by the Education Department and known as Performance Appraisal, for the improving of work standards in “five key result areas”.
Two of the old staff houses at Ingwenya are being demolished and rebuilt. Both were built in the 1930s and have many memories for those of us who knew the olden days. One of the houses was designed and built under the supervision of the late Rev. D. R. MacDonald, who occupied it with his wife and family for many years. During demolition some interesting old documents (accounts, etc.) dealing with the day to day running of the Mission were found.
It is hoped that Mbuma Hospital staff will have some assistance from overseas in the coming months. It was a wonderful Providence that there were young nurses from Kenya and Holland who came to their assistance during the malaria epidemic last year.
Mr. Ian MacLean, Administrator at Sengera Mission in Kenya, spent three weeks in Zimbabwe supervising the rebuilding of the two staff houses mentioned above. His help and advice were very much appreciated by Mr. Buthi Mziya and Mr. James Mpofu. J.N.
Kenya
“The malaria epidemic has begun in earnest”, writes the Rev. John Goldby from our Sengera Mission, “so the hospital is extremely busy with more than 10 patients in at present. The hospital staff are working flat out but they appear to be coping very well. All day long there is a constant stream of people coming into the compound on foot and in matatus [local passenger vehicles] carrying in their sick relations. The hospital verandah and passages are like a tube station at rush hour”.
“Another big problem is looming,” he says, “in the form of a shortage of maize. The drought is expected to put back the harvesting of maize by three months or so, and the prices have already doubled. The collection money that was set aside for the church floor and seats may well have to be diverted to poor relief. It is hard for the people – many of them are having to pay medical fees because of the malaria epidemic, and in addition, some have no maize”.
Mr. Goldby also mentions that he visited Kuria for the first time; and also another community near Sengera. “I was out at a place called Nyabite, near Mogongo (about four miles, as the crow flies, from Sengera),” he says. “Between 30 and 40 people were gathered. They appeared very attentive as I tried to preach on John 3:16. It seems that they have a genuine desire for the gospel, but time will tell”.
Summer Visit to Eastern Europe
THE Dominions and Overseas Committee has decided that a third visit be made to Eastern Europe each year, as well as the two usual visits. One reason for an extra visit is that it is very difficult to include Moldova in the round journey to the Ukraine. The third visit therefore is to Moldova only. Accordingly, it is intended, God willing, that Mr. Alasdair MacRae and Mr. Calum MacAskill, both from Inverness, will undertake this journey, leaving on 11th August.
They will first visit an orphanage in Kishinev, the Director of which is a Christian Jew who is a pastor of a small gathering of Jewish believers in the city. We endeavour from time to time to present the Reformed position to our contacts there. In addition to the usual humanitarian aid for the Orphanage and for certain Homes for the Destitute, we will deliver a few thousand Gospels of John, Bibles, religious literature, and about 10,000 Scripture calendars granted by the Trinitarian Bible Society. The calendars are especially appreciated by the people in the Orphanage and the Homes for the Destitute. In our humble judgement the Trinitarian Bible Society does an excellent work in distributing the Word of God in this manner, and we count it a privilege to be able to take these calendars to where they are received with gratitude and put to good use.
Since our last report we have learned that the goods we brought to Kiev during our last visit, and which were impounded by the Customs authorities in the city, have all been released and distributed, apart from some items of food which were destroyed under supervision by the Customs. Not so long ago, Communist countries in Eastern Europe were destroying Bibles, and we are thankful that the present authorities did not do so on this occasion.
Many of the Russian Bibles we took on our last visit were provided by the children of the Petrus Datheen School in Puttershoek in Holland. This is the second time that they have supplied Bibles. On this second occasion, 62 kg of Bibles, New Testaments, concordances and other items in Russian were donated by them. All this was efficiently organised by the Headmaster, Mr. Adrie Mallegrom, and each class, led by the school prefects, loaded their own boxes onto our vehicle. We were heartened by the enthusiasm of our young friends who have done what they could to spread the Word of God. We hope that they will all yet know the Saviour who is held forth in that Word which they have had a hand in sending to others. All these Bibles have been distributed to the group of believers at Odessa, who in turn distribute them in their area and beyond.
We look to the Lord to give protection and help to Mr. MacRae and Mr. MacAskill in their travels, and we pray that the Lord will give the increase to the sending of the Word of God by the Church. To those who in faith take part in this work, the promise of God is: “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” God’s promise will never fail. Rev. D. A. Ross