94. Q. Who were the Voluntaries?
A. The Voluntaries were those who held that it was no duty of the State to own or support the Church of Christ.
95. Q. Is the view of the Voluntaries scriptural?
A. No; the State should serve God by owning and supporting the Church of Christ, for the nation and kingdom that will not serve his Church shall perish (Isa. 60:12). In view of New Testament times the Psalmist also warned rulers: “Be wise therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son” (Ps. 2:10-12).
96 Q. Do we believe that our own nation as well as other nations should serve the Lord Jesus Christ?
A. Yes, all nations should serve the Lord Jesus Christ as nations, for all power in heaven and earth is given to him (Matt. 28:18).
97. Q. Did the Free Church of 1843 adopt Voluntary principles?
A. No, the Free Church did not adopt Voluntary principles in 1843 for at the Disruption Dr Thomas Chalmers, the Moderator, declared publicly that, while they were leaving a vitiated establishment, they were not Voluntaries.
98. Q. Did the Free Church of 1843 hold that it was the State’s duty to recognise and support the Church of Christ?
A. Yes, the Free Church of 1843, in her Claim of Right and in her teaching, held to the principle of the National Establishment of Religion firmly until Voluntary principles became the predominant view within the Church.
99 Q. Does the Free Presbyterian Church condemn Voluntary principles?
A. Yes, the Free Presbyterian Church in the Deed of Separation, Section 5, expressly condemns Voluntary principles.
100 Q. Which Church in Scotland is recognised by the State as the National Church of Scotland?
A. The Church of Scotland which claims to represent the historic Church of the Reformation receives formal State recognition as the National Church but does not receive financial support.
101 Q. Does the Free Presbyterian Church allow this claim?
A. The Free Presbyterian Church and several other Presbyterian Churches do not allow the claim of the Church of Scotland to represent the historic Church of the Scottish Reformation[1]
102 Q. Is the attitude of the modern Church of Scotland to God’s Word what it should be?
A. No; in the Church of Scotland the inerrancy of God’s Word is denied by many theological professors and ministers; the official standards of the Church of Scotland also include the 1892 Declaratory Act and virtually reject the infallibility and authority of Scripture. The Church of Scotland has also added various Articles to her constitution undermining the Word of God, has changed the terms of the Westminster Confession of Faith in certain places and now allows women and sodomites to hold office in the Church, contrary to Scripture.
103 Q. Is scriptural discipline exercised within the Church of Scotland?
A. No. Many ministers and office-bearers in the Church of Scotland live in ungodliness, and some in open sins which are expressly allowed, and the Lord’s Table is open to anyone in most of her congregations.
104 Q. What practices, which were cast out at the Second Reformation, have been restored in Presbyterian Churches in Scotland?
A. Those which our Reformers described as ‘the dregs of Rome’, such as the observance of Christmas and Easter and the so-called Christian Calendar days, are now observed in the Church of Scotland and to some extent within the Free Church. Many Church of Scotland ministers wear the cross in worship; the blessing of buildings and particular places is common; and prayers at the grave are also allowed.[2] Carol-singing and nativity and passion plays are practised in many Churches, besides other unscriptural practices in worship.
[1] See Free Presbyterian Memorandum on the Church of Scotland Enabling Bill 1920, Appendix V on page 60.
[2] See Free Presbyterian Synod Resolution on Prayer at the Grave, Appendix III.6 on page 48.