Church of Scotland General Assembly 2016
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland was held in May. Much of the business related to the “social gospel”, into which the Church has largely degenerated. The Church has now been ordaining women elders for 50 years. The Assembly unanimously endorsed the Columba Declaration with the Church of England (this Declaration seems to be of little consequence). The Assembly voted overwhelmingly to support staying in the European Union. The Assembly voted by 339 to 215 to allow ministers and deacons to be in sodomite marriages (a Church of Scotland deacon is more like an Anglican deacon than an ordinary Presbyterian one and is halfway to being a minister). The decision “does not compromise the Church’s traditional view of marriage as a union between one man and one woman”. A report on “the Christian understanding of marriage” is due to be presented to next year’s Assembly. The Moderator’s sermon in St Giles’ on Sabbath, May 22, was supposedly on the doctrine of the Trinity. His opening words were: “In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen. Of the many high and holy days in the Christian calendar – Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension or Pentecost – Trinity Sunday is the odd one out. . . .” The very short sermon soon departed from the subject of the Trinity. On Sabbath afternoon, the Church ran a “Heart and Soul festival, featuring a diverse programme of music and entertainment … at the Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens”. Church councils, congregations, presbyteries and service groups “hosted booths, shared their stories, and offered youth and children’s activities”. The event closed with “an uplifting open-air service at 5pm”.
It all makes sad reading. “Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat” (Mt 7:13). DWBS
University Expels Christian Student
In June we wrote of a prison gardener from Cambridgeshire, who felt forced to resign from his job after being accused of speaking to prisoners about God’s forgiveness in what was alleged to be an “insensitive” way. He claims that “because of the way his message was received” he was harassed out of his employment – even although the prisoners had attended his preaching voluntarily. In May’s Magazine we considered the Government’s sacking of a Kent magistrate after he spoke of his Christian views on same-sex adopters in a BBC interview. Clearly, in these cases, prejudice against Christianity by our “new liberal” society has been expressed in a very marked manner. However, a more recent case sees this intolerance rise to an even greater height. Because of his Christian beliefs, Felix Ngole, a second year Master’s student at Sheffield University, will not even be allowed to complete his studies in his chosen field, far less take up employment as a social worker. He had posted comments on his personal social media page highlighting the case of Kim Davis, a marriage clerk from Kentucky, who had conscientiously objected to issuing marriage certificates to same-sex couples – and had gone to prison for her convictions. Ngole expressed concern for her, supporting her release from prison, and then discussed the Bible’s teaching on marriage and sexual ethics on his Facebook site. Shortly afterwards, he received a message from university officials advising him that his “private” postings were being investigated. He was then summoned to meet them. After several meetings, the Fitness to Practise Committee in the Faculty of Social Sciences told him that he was being removed from his course. He was to be “excluded from further study on a programme leading to a professional qualification” and would “no longer be recognised as a university student”. They believed that he “may have caused offence to some individuals” and had “transgressed boundaries which are not deemed appropriate for someone entering the social work profession”. His conduct would have an effect on his “ability to carry out a role as a social worker”, the Committee concluded. The decision to expel Mr Ngole means that he cannot continue his studies at the University of Sheffield, nor pursue the career of his choice, even although nobody had formally accused him of causing offence. Commenting on the University’s decision, he said, “Like every other student at university, I use social media to communicate and express personal views. In my Facebook posts in question, I simply expressed support for the biblical view of marriage and sexuality. However, I was reported to the University for these views and they unilaterally decided to end my course. In so doing, they ended my training for my chosen vocation in life. I shall be seeking further legal action as my case raises all sorts of legal questions as to whether Christians can any longer hold traditional biblical and moral beliefs and still enter mainstream professions such as social work, medicine, teaching and law in this country.”
Mr Ngole did appeal against the decision to the University’s Appeals Office but was turned down and told that submitting the posts in question on social media was “inappropriate” in light of the professional conduct required by the Health and Care Professions Council. The response from the Appeals Office claimed that Mr Ngole had not “offered any insight or reflection” on the “potential impact” of his postings, or on “how the social work profession may be perceived by the public, based on what he had posted”. The Appeals Committee ruled that his expulsion was “proportionate”. A spokesperson for the Christian Legal Centre, which intends to take Ngole’s case further, said, “The University’s decision reflects a worrying trend throughout Higher Education institutions, which is to censor any view that may be deemed “offensive”. Mr Ngole has worked with those who identify as homosexual in the past and has always treated them with respect, never discriminating against them. There is no evidence that Felix’s biblical views would have negatively impacted his work. We have become used to registrars, nurses, teachers, magistrates and counsellors being disciplined in their jobs for acting according to conscience, but this is the very first time a Christian student has been stopped even before he enters his chosen vocation to help others – simply for holding traditional Christian views on marriage and sexuality. This case raises fundamental issues, which is why taking further action is vital.” The seriousness of our position was succinctly noted in a letter to the June Evangelical Times. The writer states, “I find it difficult to see, for instance, where a Christian social worker could expect to be happily employed by a local authority, which will have a clear expectation that unbiblical behaviours be reinforced or facilitated, in specific cases, and where there is zero tolerance for conscientious objection”. And this, of course, applies to many other sectors of employment.
Our young (and older) people will need great wisdom when choosing a career and then pursuing it in this secular society. However, the Saviour is the same in every age. He is in ultimate control and still says to sinners who trust in Him: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). KHM
Reflections on a Boxing Champion’s Life and Death
The world has recently been paying its homage to the late Muhammad Ali, former heavyweight boxing champion. Whatever skill and bravery is required, it is no claim to greatness to be the best at bludgeoning one’s fellow men into unconsciousness. Prize-fighting will always remain a brutish and wicked sport. At the peak of his fame, Ali made the dreadful boast that he was more famous than Jesus, but not long afterwards he began to show symptoms of the onset of Parkinson’s disease, from which he suffered so visibly and debilitatingly until his recent death. Christ warned that those who live by violence will die by violence (Mt 26:52), and that warning seems tragically applicable in this case, where Ali himself sustained so much damage through the very contests in which he made his name. The solemn fact is that when Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali and embraced the extremist ideology of the black Muslim movement in the United States, he openly denied Christianity and, consequently, Christ Himself. “If we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim 2:12-13). AWM