Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland

Reformed in Doctrine, Worship, and Practice

“Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” Psalm 60:4

  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • What We Contend For
    • What We Believe
    • How We Worship
    • How We Are Organised
    • Important Documents
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Articles
  • Publications
    • Free Presbyterian Magazine
    • Young People’s Magazine
    • Gaelic Supplement – An Earrann Ghàidhlig
    • Synod Reports
    • Religion and Morals Committee Reports
  • Audio
    • Sermons
    • Theological Conferences
    • Youth Conferences
  • Congregations
    • Places of Worship
    • Current Ministers
    • Galleries of FP Churches
  • International
    • Zimbabwe Mission
    • Other International Congregations
    • Translation Work
    • Metrical Psalms in Various Languages
  • History
    • History of the FP Church
    • Congregational Histories
    • Deceased Ministers and Probationers
    • Obituaries and Synod Tributes
    • Moderators of Synod etc.
  • Spiritual Help
    • How to Find Spiritual Help
    • How may a sinner be saved?
    • How may someone know if they are truly saved?
    • Spiritual Mindedness
    • Scripture and Catechism Exercises 2021-22
  • Bookshop
Home / Publications / Free Presbyterian Magazine / 1998 to 2003 / April 1999 / The Inter-Faith Movement

The Inter-Faith Movement

by Rev D. M. Boyd

The Inter-Faith Movement: The New Age enters the Church by Herbert J. Pollitt.

The Banner of Truth Trust, 1996, Paperback, 214 pages, £6.95, reduced to £5.50; ISBN 0-85151-680-7
Available from the F. P. Bookroom, 133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LE.

WHAT has Prince Philip to do with the inter-faith movement? How has the Virgin Mary assumed such importance in the inter-faith dialogue between the Roman Catholics and the Muslims? How much New Age and inter-faith worship is tolerated in the Church of England? The answers to these questions can be gleaned from this publication.

This book aims to demonstrate “the marginalization of Christ in the emerging global religious, cultural and political consciousness of the age”, and that “a combination of academic theologians, leaders of main-line denominations and inter-faith activists, agree that the great world religions all express an identical transcendence. All lead to the knowledge of God, and therefore all are possessed of a common unity”. However, Dr Pollitt, who spent his teaching career in schools and colleges of education, sets out to demonstrate that this modern consensus is wrong, because “the ‘divine’ allegedly found in each religion is as different as the religions themselves, and that the message of historic Christianity cannot be adjusted to any idea of a universal faith”.

In a preliminary survey of the inter-faith movement, familiar names crop up. The World Parliament of Religions, which commenced in 1893, and Sir Francis Younghusband, who was the founder of the World Congress of Faiths (WCF) in 1936, are introduced. In 1986 the WCF celebrated its jubilee year by inviting the then Archbishop of Canterbury to address its 10th annual lecture. In this lecture Dr Robert Runcie demonstrated how far he had moved from the exclusive and unique claims of Christianity.

Dr Pollitt then profiles some prominent theologians who are involved in the inter-faith movement, either as pluralists (those holding the “position which abandons all insistence on the superiority or finality of Christ and Christianity and [who recognize] the independent saving validity of other faiths”; pluralism has become a more common term than ‘inter-faith’), or as syncretists (those who believe that present religions, although containing divine revelatory elements, are inadequate and so the best aspects of each need to be harmonised into a new religion), or as both.

In the next chapter, Dr Pollitt gives much interesting information about the New Age movement’s involvement in Roman Catholicism, the World Council of Churches and the Church of England. Those who are not familiar with this will be surprised to discover how much is tolerated in the Church of England. For example, there was an inter-faith service in Newcastle Cathedral in which Rama (the seventh incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu) was worshipped as “Lord, King and Lord of all”. A Hindu idol was brought into the cathedral to the accompaniment of chanting, dancing and the offering of flowers. Muslims, Sikhs and Baha’is adored their own deities. The name of Jesus was not mentioned. Pollitt says that Christian principles have been flouted in the inter-faith events during the Commonwealth Day Observances. The Queen has given too much support to these events, and we may mention in passing that the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland has repeatedly protested to Her Majesty about this.

In a further chapter, on Environmentalism and Inter-Faith, Pollitt seeks to bridge the gap between these two movements by introducing his readers to Martin Palmer’s new age influence on the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and the Church of England. In 1983, Palmer founded his own religious and educational consultancy, the International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture (ICOREC), which sought to promote a greater understanding of the religions and cultures of the world. In Palmer’s new age theology “nature is given the divine prerogative of forgiveness”. This has its roots in the “creation-centred spirituality” of the Roman Catholic Dominican, (now turned American Episcopal priest), Matthew Fox, and the “theology of evolution” of the Jesuit philosopher Teilhard de Chardin.

In the final chapter, the common ground between the inter-faith movement and the New Age movement is illustrated from Martin Palmer’s influence upon the Church of England. “With so much common ground between them, it is not surprising that supporters of the inter-faith movement have provided a platform for the New Age movement.”

Having completed his survey he holds up these unbiblical movements to the light of Scripture and to the claims and all-sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pollitt believes “that the ‘divine’ allegedly found in each religion is as different as the religions themselves”. This is a point well worth repeating and emphasising. He also points out that “the message of historic Christianity cannot be adjusted to any idea of a universal faith”. The reinterpretation of Christianity and the Bible is the error of the times which needs to be exposed. Interacting with Palmer, Pollitt points out that it is not good enough to write that the cross of Christ “shapes my understanding of all life”. “Palmer’s rejection of the objective nature of the atonement follows from his rejections [sic] of penal substitution. The cross which is significant to him is not the biblical cross.”

The title of this book gives the impression that the inter-faith movement is the effect of the New Age movement, which is slightly misleading. Besides, as a word, ‘inter-faith’ does not convey the idea that ‘multi-faith’ does. ‘Multi-faith’ gets across the idea that the protagonists are taking on board more than one religion at the same time, that is, that no one religion is sufficient. In the midst of all the facts and details supplied by Dr Pollitt, it is rather easy to lose the line of his argument. However, the overall impression is clear enough, which is “to demonstrate the marginalization of Christ in the emerging global religious, cultural and political consciousness of the age”.

This reviewer found the section on the Roman Catholic Church particularly enlightening. The first declaration of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), Lumen Gentium, “holds out the hope of salvation to the adherents of all faiths and to those who seek God apart from Christ”. This attitude had been anticipated by two Roman Catholic mystics, the English Benedictine monk, Dom Bede Griffiths, and the American Trappist, Thomas Merton, whose mysticism enabled them to promote the rapprochement of Romanism and Eastern religions. The Vatican II Documents accept other major religions as true preparations for Romanism.

This inter-faith thinking is behind the World Day of Prayer for Peace at Assisi, in which the pope took the initiative and personally brought together 160 leaders of world religions at Assisi on 27th October 1986. These leaders included Dr Robert Runcie of the Church of England, the Dalai Lama, and representatives of Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Roman Catholicism, Orthodoxy and ‘Protestantism’, together with American medicine men who called on the Great Spirit, snake worshippers from Togo, African animists, and Zoroastrians. This meeting was a follow-on from the Vatican II document Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions which sets the tone for inter-faith dialogue.

Further, an informative explanation is given of the dialogue between Romanism and Islam. The devotion of the present pope for the Virgin Mary is well known. He attributes his survival from the assassin’s bullet to “Our Lady of Fatima”. Fatima seems to be a cross-over point for dialogue with Islam, for Fatima was the name of a daughter of Mohammed who is venerated by Muslims. “When a ‘Pilgrim Virgin’, a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, toured Africa and Asia, millions flocked to venerate the statue and learn of Our Lady’s ‘Peace Plan from Heaven’. Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs were particularly enthusiastic. The Muslims, who have a certain devotion to Mary and recognize her Virgin Birth and Immaculate Conception, were intrigued by the fact that Mary had appeared at Fatima, which was the name of Muhammad’s favourite daughter and regarded by the prophet as the highest woman in Heaven after our Lady.” The pope John Paul II believes that Christians and Muslims both worship the same God. In his opening address at the Assisi meeting, he declared that whereas the faiths were to pray separately, yet they would be praying to the same God. It is noticeable that many of the central characters in Pollitt’s survey of the inter-faith movement are Roman Catholics, and that the pope himself is involved. Rome is no guardian of “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”.

This reviewer does not think that the Roman agenda has changed one whit. The ecumenical and inter-faith language of Vatican II, and the current activities of the pope and his cohorts, is simply a cynical manipulation of other ‘faiths’. Whereas there is a token acknowledgment of the religious faith in other religions, Rome has not moved one iota from its declaration that the ‘fulness’ of God’s revelation is still to be found only with itself. The outcome is plain; other religions must be persuaded to accept this. This is to be accomplished by ecumenical and inter-faith dialogue. In these ecumenical and inter-faith worship sessions, Rome studiously avoids mixing its own ceremonies with that of others. It will not allow the impression that one form of worship is as good as another. Church of Scotland ministers call for inter-communion, but Cardinal Thomas Winning bleats that it is unfair to hurry the process. If Winning was frank, or if there were journalists who knew enough about the subject to press the point, we would discover that Rome cannot and never will compromise its own rites by mixing them indiscriminately with those rites of other faiths. The Roman cry is, ‘No surrender of our claims.’

It is no surprise to discover the role that mysticism plays in the inter-faith movement. Mysticism exalts experience above doctrine. It declares that those who have similar experiences of ‘God’ are one in their worship whatever their doctrine is. Pollitt writes: “It is believed that this unity may be brought about by exploration of the mystical element in all religions.” Experience is considered to be more important than doctrine. Friedrich Schleiermacher’s influence promoted experience above doctrine in the 19th century Protestant world. In the latter part of the 20th century, the ‘second blessing’ experience of the charismatic movement has done much to promote ecumenism with Rome. Mysticism, the inter-faith movement and the New Age movement have in common the exaltation of religious experience above doctrine. The safeguard against being blown about with every wind of doctrine is to be firmly grounded in the truth of holy scripture and in the biblical method of testing the spirits to see whether they are of God (1 John 4:1). More than once Pollitt draws attention to the unhealthy spiritual influences which affected some of these inter-faith leaders while they were yet young people.

The New Age has its own counterfeit of the biblical doctrine of the new birth. It is a mystical experience that initiates one’s entry into the New Age, by a heightened stage of consciousness. The author gives examples of this experiential mysticism, for example, see pages 167 and 169. The author hopes to reclaim the “many who are participating, even marginally, in inter-faith activity, to make them aware of the extent to which they are being blown about by the spirit of the age instead of furthering the kingdom of God”. Dr Pollitt wishes to warn the evangelical world about the inter-faith implications of various activities. For example, he points out that the Greenbelt Festival (an annual so-called evangelical event) in August 1994 was inspired by the pagan Gaia (mother earth) concept rather than by the Bible. He explains the involvement of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the inter-faith movement. One month before the pope’s inter-faith gathering at Assisi, the WWF also held an inter-faith event at Assisi to celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary. Under the aegis of its President, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, five religions took part, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. The Radio Times informs us that Prince Philip became interested in bringing the different religions together to buttress the environmental cause when he read a WWF-sponsored book Worlds of Difference by Martin Palmer and Esther Bissett, for use in schools, telling the creation stories of eight different religions. The Duke of Edinburgh brought in Palmer, who had founded the International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture, to organise the WWF celebration on inter-faith lines in order to establish an alliance between conservation and the forces of religion. Palmer has written: “Sadly, it has to be said that the Church has tended to lose sight of the fact that salvation was for ‘everything on earth’ and has presented the atonement of Christ as basically of significance only to human beings.” The environmentalist inter-faith movement has now taken us beyond the 19th century double reference theory of the atonement to a triple reference theory! Christ’s atonement now has reference to the environment!

This cross-over between the inter-faith movement and environmentalism is very enlightening. The fear of environmental destruction is very real among environmentalists, and sometimes takes on the dimension of religious fear. Pollitt gives examples of services where the forgiveness of ‘mother earth’ is sought for man’s abuse of her resources. It is possibly a hang-over from the post-war fear of nuclear destruction. Matthew Fox considers the danger of a nuclear holocaust to be the most original sin of all. Martin Palmer sees redemption not just for mankind but for the whole of creation; and he bases it on the Noahic covenant. This is why the symbol of the rainbow is taking on more significance in environmental circles. Just as the red ribbon shows ‘AIDS awareness’, so the rainbow shows ‘environmental awareness’. Palmer’s foundation, ICOREC, has organised inter-faith festivals in several Anglican cathedrals. At one of these, the Dean of Winchester cathedral said: “As a priest, I can offer absolution from God for those sins for which we ask his forgiveness. Today we have to hope for forgiveness from Nature. We shall not know if Nature has forgiven us for many years to come.” Although there is much emphasis on the rainbow covenant, Pollitt legitimately points out that he thinks that these people are doubting God’s covenant – “The Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done” (Genesis 8:21-22). The inter-faith environmentalists fear Mother Nature more than God; God will forgive but they do not know if Nature will. It is helpful to compare this fear with the Saviour’s words: “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mat. 10:28).

It is important to notice the extent to which false religion relies on faulty exegesis of scripture. For example, Moses’ anger with Israel is because “they were whoring after the past gods! They were worshipping the religion of the previous age, the Age of the Bull. They refused to face the new spiritual consciousness that Moses issued in, that of the Age of the Ram”, p. 133. The forcing of the New Age agenda is plain to those familiar with it, but even those who are unfamiliar with the New Age agenda would not be taken in by such ranting if they were even remotely familiar with the teaching of scripture. The willingness to receive such teaching reveals the extent of the biblical illiteracy in New Age devotees. But it also reveals that behind this faulty exegesis of scripture is the loss of confidence in the Bible as God’s inspired revelation, which therefore allows people to twist scripture into the mould which they wish; for examples, see pp.150,154. The remedy is clear – to exegete scripture properly by prayerful familiarity with it.

This is a useful book for the areas which it covers. There is interesting information on the thinking of inter-faith movement theologians which will be of interest to scholars. Ecumenism has progressed to inter-faith ecumenism. This reviewer still awaits an exposure of the involvement of Freemasonry in the inter-faith movement. Freemasonry is in essence inter-faith and it has existed longer than the overt inter-faith movement (cf. the annual Religion and Morals Report to the Synod, Synod Proceedings 1988, p.6).

There are very few misprints in the book, (pp.162, 163, 177, 192, 206), maintaining the high standard of the Banner of Truth, and it is well-referenced, but the style of writing could have been clearer. Some readers may criticise Pollitt’s detailing of the mystical bent of mind of these theologians as rather turgid, but such is the nature of the subject; and Pollitt summarises it more succinctly in his chapter on “Common Ground”. The seven page index is welcome, but it is not very exhaustive. Pluralism does not occur in the index, nor does the World Parliament of Religions – nor does the Church of Scotland appear, which Pollitt mentions because the General Assembly failed to affirm the uniqueness of Christ. In May 1993 the General Assembly rejected a resolution to affirm ‘the teaching of Scripture that Jesus Christ, the incarnate, crucified and risen Son of God is the only Saviour of men and women’ and to ‘restate the Church of Scotland’s commitment to worldwide evangelism’.

This is indeed the question. “What think ye of Christ?” “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets” (Mat. 16:13-14). Commenting on these words, Hugh Martin writes: “They carry their religion no higher than waiting on the ministry of men. Thou art somewhat in their estimation; and thy religion they cannot possibly quite get rid of. But it is only as if thou wert such an one as themselves; or, at least, some very holy fellow-creature, with whom they could take their own way. They deal with thee as if thou wert only ‘John’, or ‘Elias’, or ‘Jeremias’, or some sacred but human prophet.” “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Mat. 16:15-17).

Pluralism is in danger of entering the reformed churches. In 1996, at the Reformed Ecumenical Council, Klaas Runia, retired president of the theological seminary of the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (GKN) at Kampen, The Netherlands, read a paper which cast sufficient doubt upon the necessity of faith in Christ for salvation that some have said that pluralism will become the main focus of debate over the next 25-50 years in the churches, not women and worship. The GKN changed its church order regarding mission to the Jews. “In the past our church order said we have to witness to Jews on the basis of Christ, we now say we bear mutual witness,” said Runia.

The new inclusivist approach, which appreciates non-Christian religions, is challenging the exclusivist approach of historic and biblical Christianity. While inclusivists may refrain from saying that the non-Christian religion can itself save a person, it tends to accept that Christ is in these other religions and that it is always Christ who saves by His hidden presence in the other religion. Klaas Runia attempts to give historical credibility to this view by saying that it dates from the second century theologian Justin Martyr, and he says it is held today in various forms by a number of Roman Catholic leaders. Runia adds: “I can’t believe that God would not have heard the cries of the Old Covenant people when they cried out in Auschwitz. I would certainly not exclude the possibility of a Muslim in his deep distress calling out to Allah, that his prayer is heard by the God in whom we believe.” This is the more dangerous as Runia has been long regarded as one of the most prominent conservatives in his denomination.

There is as much need today to preach, even to religious leaders, what the apostle Peter preached before the Jerusalem council: “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:11-12).

“Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31).

Return to Table of Contents for The Free Presbyterian Magazine – April 1999

Upcoming Events

Jul 1
30 Jun - 4 Jul

Communion: Beauly

Jul 7
7 Jul - 11 Jul

Communions: Bonar Bridge, Staffin, Uig

Jul 12
All day

Meeting of Presbytery: Asia Pacific

Jul 14
14 Jul - 18 Jul

Communions: Shieldaig, Fort William

Jul 21
21 Jul - 25 Jul

Communions: Auckland, Struan

View Calendar

Publications

  • Free Presbyterian Magazine
    • Historic Sermons
    • 1896 to 1904
    • 1904 to 1910
    • 1910 to 1919
    • 1920 to 1929
    • 1930 to 1939
    • 1940 to 1949
    • 1950 to 1956
    • 1998 to 2003
      • October 2003
        • A View from the Outer Hebrides
        • The Untiring Travellers – Part 2
        • Sanctification – Part 2
        • The Ten Virgins
        • John Wesley 1703-1791
        • A Pastor’s Concern
        • Seeking Great Things
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • September 2003
        • A Kingdom Where Order Reigns
        • Church Information
        • The Untiring Travellers – Part 1
        • Sanctification – part 1
        • The Achreny Mission – 2. 1815 to 1843
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – part 4
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2003
        • Church Information
        • A Prayer-Hearing God – Part 1
        • The Achreny Mission – Part 3 – After the Disruption
        • Meditation – Its Blessedness
        • Obituary – John Beaton, Raasay
        • African Missions Update
        • Growing Vatican Sovereignty
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Christ as Prophet
      • March 2003
        • What We Make It?
        • King Solomon’s Chariot
        • Samuel Rutherford – St Andrews and Westminster
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – Part 4
        • The Parable of the Talents
        • The Kinsman
        • Scottish Church Initiative for Union
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • May 2003
        • A Powerful Voice
        • Notes and Comments
        • “Ye Shall Ask What Ye Will”- Part 2
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – The Religion of the Bible
        • The Prodigal Son
        • The Study of Providence
        • Poor and Needy
        • John Piper and His Doctrine
        • African Missions
        • Protestant View
      • June 2003
        • No Sense of Need
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Call of Matthew
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – The Christian Doctrine of God
        • The Sower
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 1
        • Meditation Sanctifies
        • Mbuma Zending Meeting – 2003
        • Zimbabwe Ordinations and Inductions
        • Book Reviews
      • July 2003
        • Acceptable Worship
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Grace Glorified in Election
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – Some Further Doctrines
        • The Pharisee and the Publican
        • Rabbi Duncan
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 2
        • A Plea for Prayer
        • Continuing Repentance
        • Book Review: Christmas Evans, The Life and Times of the One-Eyed Preacher of Wales
      • January 2003
        • Thankfulness
        • The Lord God of Elijah
        • Samuel Rutherford – Fair Anwoth by the Solway – 1627 – 1636
        • Manna
        • All of Grace
        • Obituary – Mr Edward Arthur Christensen, Auckland
        • Obituary – Miss Isabel Murray, North Tolsta
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • February 2003
        • Christ’s Infinite Riches
        • Protestant View
        • Church Information
        • The Lord God of Elijah – Part 2
        • Samuel Rutherford – His King’s Palace in Aberdeen
        • The Privilege of Prayer
        • In Possession of the Promises
        • The Rich Man and Lazarus
        • Humiliation and Prayer
        • Book Reviews
        • Notes and Comments
        • Book Review – Sidelights on Bible Characters
        • Book Review – Authentic Christianity: Sermons on the Acts of the Apostles
      • December 2003
        • Nineteenth-Century Drift
        • A Prayer-Hearing God – Part 2
        • The Achreny Mission – 4. After the Disruption – Part 2
        • Meditation – Its Consequences
        • Visit to the Ukraine
        • Book Review – Letters from the South Seas, Margaret Paton
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • April 2003
        • The Promised Land
        • Church Information
        • “Ye Shall Ask What Ye Will”- Part 1
        • Samuel Rutherford – The Last Years
        • The Pearl of Great Price
        • Repentance
        • A Private Among the Padres
        • Damaging Doubts
        • The Prince – Defender of all Faiths
        • Protestant View
      • August 2003
        • What Kind of Faith?
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Head Stone of the Corner
        • The Vineyard
        • Mary and the Spiritual Mind
        • The Achreny Mission – 1. 1760 to 1815
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 3
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Book Review – God’s Hymnbook for the Christian Church
      • September 2002
        • The Shepherd’s Reward
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Jubilee
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Conflict
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – Part 2
        • The Beliver’s Sanctification
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Update
        • The New Archbishop of Canterbury
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
      • October 2002
        • “My Counsel Shall Stand”
        • Church Information
        • The Way to the City
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Consolidation
        • “Your Mercy”and the Jews’ Future
        • Springing Up After Many Days
        • Book Reviews
        • Eastern Europe News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2002
        • Christ’s Spiritual Conquests
        • Church Information
        • The Call to the Water of Life – Part 2 (1) A Sermon by William Nixon Revelation 22:17. And the spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
        • The Right Way (1) Rev J S Sinclair
        • Obituary Mr Murdo Macleod, Elder, Stornoway
        • Book Reviews
        • Foreign Mission News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • May 2002
        • Divine Compassion
        • Book Review – The Antichrist
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Coming to Christ – Part 2
        • A Master in Israel
        • The Cleansing of the Leper
        • The Christian’s Life
        • The Puritans on Prayer
        • Advice on Preaching
        • The Great Draught of Fishes
        • Book Review – Church and State
      • March 2002
        • “Hear the Word of the Lord”
        • The Blessing of Asher
        • Thomas Cranmer – That God Might Be Truly Worshipped
        • Psalms or Hymns in Public Worship
        • Obituary – Reverend Donald Nicolson
        • Is Britain Being Protected?
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Protestant View
      • June 2002
        • “Another King, One Jesus”
        • Church Information
        • Pray Without Ceasing
        • The Puritans on Prayer – Part 2
        • Inventing Religion
        • Princeton and Pelagianism
        • Among the Children
        • Hopes of Future Usefulness – A Letter of John Love
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • January 2002
        • “Religion in its Purity”
        • Notes and Comments
        • Attaining a Knowledge of Our Sins
        • The Meat Offering
        • The Strength of Faith
        • Thomas Cranmer – Moving Towards a Reformation
        • The Extent of the Atonement
        • Rev John MacDonald (1925-2000) – Obituary
        • Book Review – God and Cosmos
        • Protestant View – Queen Invites Cardinal to Sandringham
      • July 2002
        • The Need for Opened Eyes
        • God’s Wrath Against Sin
        • The Puritans on Prayer – A Wondrous Mysterious Grace
        • Revival in Arran
        • Man’s Righteousness and God’s
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Protestant View
      • February 2002
        • Offering up Our Desires to God
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Look unto Me and Be Ye Saved
        • Thomas Cranmer – The Man of Extreme Caution
        • The Power of the Gospel
        • The Goodness of God in Redemption
        • Obituary – Mrs Isabella Turner
        • Book Review – Galatians
        • Book Notices
        • Protestant View
      • December 2002
        • “A Zealous, Godly Preacher”
        • The Call to the Water of Life – Part 2
        • Samuel Rutherford – From Birth to New Birth
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – part 3
        • Obituary – Mrs Annie MacIver, North Tolsta
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • April 2002
        • “I am the Resurrection and the Life”
        • Coming to Christ – Part 1
        • Thomas Cranmer – On to the Fire
        • The Plague of Leprosy
        • Divided Allegiance
        • Obituary – Miss Margaret Sutherland
        • Book Review – The Hidden Pathway
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • August 2002
        • Everything Devoted to God’s Service
        • Unity Among the Brethren
        • Those Who Have Feld for Refuge
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Conquest
        • Symptoms of Spiritual Death
        • Book Review – The King’s Daughters
        • African Mission News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • September 2001
        • Knowing God
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Path of the Just
        • Obituary – The late Miss Jean Nicolson
        • Obituary – The late Mrs Lexie MacLeod
        • Raasay Congregation – a Brief History
        • The Knowledge of Sin
        • Induction at Sengera
        • Book Review: The Source of the IRA/Sinn Fein
        • Protestant View
      • October 2001
        • Tragedy
        • “God Gave the Increase”
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – It’s Usefulness for the Church
        • Desires for Glory
        • Calling a Minister
        • The Vatican Archives
        • A Visit to Singapore
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2001
        • Scotland’s Preachers
        • Recent Inductions
        • The Rose of Sharon
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – It’s Usefulness on the Personal Level – Intellectually
        • “Be Strong and of a Good Courage”
        • God’s Wonderful Goodness
        • “Withhold not Correction”
        • Obituary – The late Mr Donald Beaton, Elder, Auckland
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Obituary – The late Mr Donald Beaton, Elder, Auckland
      • May 2001
        • Sinking in Capernaum’s Doom
        • Book Review – Irish Worthies
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Goodwill of God
        • Keeping the Heart in Temptation
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 2
        • The Garden of Nuts
        • The Son of Man Lifted up
        • Obituary – The late John Angus MacLeod
        • A Deputy’s Visit to Africa – Kenya
        • Book Review – Faith and Justification
      • March 2001
        • “Just with God”
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Christ Set up from Everlasting
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ – Christ as Priest
        • W S Plumer- Part 2
        • Obituary – The late Rev Alexander McPherson, Perth
        • Pastoral Letter – Rev Alexander McPherson
        • Joseph MacKay
        • Book Review – Forerunner of the Great Awakening
      • June 2001
        • Blessedness
        • Church Information
        • Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 1
        • Who Belong to the Visible Church?
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 3
        • Religion in the Highlands After 1688 – Part 3
        • Raising Questions Against Darwinism
        • Eastern Europe News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • July 2001
        • Cry Aloud Spare Not
        • Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 2
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ
        • Our African Missions – an Update
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Spring Visit to Ukraine
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • January 2001
        • Looking Forward
        • Book Review – The Government of the Church
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Faith, Its Nature, Origin and Effects
        • Thomas Halyburton and How God May Be Known
        • The Divinity of Christ
        • Religion in the Highlands after 1688 – Part 1
        • Keep a good conscience
        • God’s True Family
        • What is the Object of Faith?
        • Communion in Singapore
      • February 2001
        • Calling the Sabbath a Delight
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Christ Set up from Everlasting
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ – Christ as Prophet
        • Religion in the Highlands after 1688 – Part 2
        • Book Review – Daily Prayer and Praise by Henry Law
        • Psalm 122 – Henry Law
        • The enemies of the Christian
        • African Mission News
        • Protestant View
      • December 2001
        • Protestant View
        • African Mission News
        • Eastern Europe News
        • Book Review – Tell it to the Generation Following
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – Usefulness on the Personal Level
        • The Impossibility of Neutrality
        • “Christian”Entertainment
        • Attaining a Knowledge of Our Sins
        • Church Information
        • Notes and Comments
        • A View From Zimbabwe
      • August 2001
        • “There They Preached the Gospel”
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • “He Will Bless Us”
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ
        • “He Delighteth in Mercy”
        • “The Voice of Christianity in Scotland”
        • Obituary – The late Mr Ian M MacLeod, Elder, Dingwall
        • Obituary – The late Mrs Catherine MacKenzie, Stornoway
        • Book Review – Southern Presbyterian Leaders 1683-1911
        • Book Review – The Westminster Confession of Faith, Milestone, Millstone or Manifesto?
      • April 2001
        • Sowing the Seed
        • The Duty of Nations to the Church
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 1
        • “The Finger of God”
        • Obituary – The late Miss Peggy Nicolson, Inverness
        • A Deputy’s Visit to Africa – Zimbabwe
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • September 2000
        • The Resurrection of Christ
        • Church Information
        • Reading the Scriptures Profitably
        • The believer is to put those sins… into the hands of Christ
        • The Puritans and the Ministry
        • Christ Glorifying God
        • Blessed Are They That Mourn
        • The Nature of Vital Piety (2)
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • October 2000
        • The Fear of God
        • Church Information
        • Reading the Scriptures Profitably (2)
        • He indeed is rich in grace whose graces are not hindered by his riches
        • The Puritans and the Ministry (2)
        • James Stewart
        • Christ Healing a Leper
        • Visits To Eastern Europe
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2000
        • “What Are They Among so Many?”
        • Vain Religion
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Desired Haven
        • God may bear long with the wicked, but…
        • Thomas Halyburton
        • James Stewart (2)
        • The Temptation of Christ
        • Book Review
      • May 2000
        • The Church of God From Age to Age
        • Jesus of Nazareth passeth by
        • Rev Lachlan MacLeod (1918-1998) – Obituary
        • “So let him give”
        • The Solemn League and Covenant
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
      • June 2000
        • The Example of the Church in Smyrna
        • Eastern Europe – Spring 2000 Report
        • Church Information
        • The Nature of the New Birth
        • This is Indeed the Christ
        • Obituary The late Mr Alasdair Gillies, M.A., Elder, Dingwall
        • Report of Mbuma Zending Meeting – 29th April 2000
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Ma Donsa One of the Pilgrims at Ingwenya
        • African Mission News
      • March 2000
        • Two Free Churches
        • Sermon The Gracious Invitation of Christ
        • The Rev John Sinclair of Bruan (1801-43)
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • Regeneration Regulating the Affections
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • July 2000
        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Church Information
        • Lift up a Standard for the People
        • At the Westminster Assembly
        • The Earth Corrupt before God
        • The Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • Obituary – The late Mr Kenneth Gillies, Elder, Raasay
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Synod
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • February 2000
        • The Rev. Christopher Munro (1817-85)
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • “Come unto me”
        • Joy and Peace in Believing
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • Negotiations in London
        • Obituary
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Scottish Day Conference
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • January 2000
        • Another Millennium
        • Notes of a Sermon The Earth Filled with His Glory
        • The Second Coming of Christ – Three Main Views
        • The Latter Day Glory
        • Building up the Church of God
        • Princeton Seminary – The Majestic Testimony by David Calhoun.
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • December 2000
        • The Divine Saviour
        • A Sermon by John Kennedy
        • Thomas Halyburton
        • The Late Roderick Macleod,
        • The Aberdeen Church
        • Book Reviews
        • Book Reviews
        • Notes and Comments
      • August 2000
        • Where Are We Now?
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Christ Given in His Fulness
        • Alexander Henderson
        • I cannot always come to Christ
        • Obedience to Christ
        • The Nature of Vital Piety
        • The Puritans for Today
        • Protestant View
      • April 2000
        • The Family Under Attack
        • Sermon
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • The King in Scotland
        • Comments on Psalm 51
        • Unsettling the Settlement
        • The pope’s visit to the Holy Land
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • October 1999
        • Declaring All the Counsel of God
        • Church Information
        • God so Loved the World
        • The Rev. James S. Sinclair
        • The Glasgow Assembly
        • Calvin’s View of the Millennium
        • Book Review
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Annual General Meeting
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • September 1999
        • Old Testament Types
        • Church Information
        • Christ Seeing of the Travail of His Soul
        • Alexander Stewart of Cromarty
        • The Intercession of Christ
        • Resolved to Abolish Episcopacy
        • “And the sun was darkened”
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 1999
        • Morality and Politics
        • Church Information
        • Sermon
        • Rev Alexander Morrison (1925-1999) – Obituary
        • The Charismatic Movement – The Gifts have Ceased
        • Casting down the Walls of Jericho
        • A Visit to Singapore
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • May 1999
        • “Upon this rock I will build my church”
        • The Blessed Poor
        • Rev Angus Mackay
        • Is Christ our High Priest?
        • Signs of Religious Declension
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • March 1999
        • Heaven-provoking Legislation
        • Church Information
        • The Drawing Power of the Cross
        • The Alpha Course Examined
        • Teaching Christianity in Scottish Schools
        • The late Mrs Margaret Tallach, Glasgow
        • Letter by John Love, D.D.
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
      • June 1999
        • Made a Faithful Shepherd
        • Notes and Comments
        • How May Sanctification Be Attained?
        • Protestant View
        • Mbuma Zending Meeting Report
        • Address to Mbuma Zending Meeting
        • Spiritual Pride in Man
        • Church Information
        • Preaching the Unsearchable Riches of Christ
        • The Free Church and the World
      • January 1999
        • When the Enemy Shall Come in Like a Flood
        • Church Information
        • Let me see thy countenance
        • The Religion of the Highlands
        • Personal Creed and Resolutions
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
        • Eastern Europe Mission
      • July 1999
        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Pre-eminence of Christ
        • A Man Who Wished to Live Obscurely
        • The Nature of Saving Faith
        • The Light of the World
        • God is: therefore God is to be Worshipped
        • Book Review
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Synod
        • Protestant View
      • February 1999
        • The Purposes of the Lord’s Supper
        • The Trinitarian Bible Society – Appointments
        • The Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God
        • Holy Importunity in Prayer
        • A Heavenly Eternal Crown of Glory
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
      • December 1999
        • The End of a Millennium
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • Until the Day Break
        • The Charismatic Movement – The Gifts have Ceased
        • The Rev. Donald Macfarlane of Dingwall
        • The Pagan Origin of Christmas A Reminder
        • Ministers Prepared by Temptation
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • August 1999
        • The Advance of Rome under Hume
        • Notes and Comments
        • Eastern Europe Mission
        • Church Information
        • The Marks of a Time of Revival, and the Means of Bringing it About
        • The Free Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Thy Kingdom Come
        • The National Covenant
        • Work of the Trinitarian Bible Society in 1998
        • Unsettled and Discouraged?
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
      • April 1999
        • The Observance of Easter
        • The Smitten Shepherd and His Flock
        • The Prince of Highland Preachers
        • The Inter-Faith Movement
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • September 1998
        • The Golden Key of Prayer
        • Church Information
        • Weighed in the Balances
        • Christ, the Way
        • Praying as Beggars
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Our African Mission
        • Patrick Mzamo – A sketch of an African elder and lay-preacher
      • October 1998
        • The Westminster Assembly and Romanism
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • Christ Liveth in me *
        • God’s Way of Bringing Sinners to Christ
        • The Effects of Television Violence
        • Sin and Sanctification
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Philemon Ndebele
      • November 1998
        • Faithfulness or Vilification
        • Church Information
        • The Best Security in Evil Times
        • Pentecostal Dialogue with Rome
        • The Prayers of the Aged
        • The Religion of the Highlands – The Persecution of a Highland Laird
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Eastern Europe Mission Work
      • May 1998
        • The Mode of Baptism – A Defence
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • A Vessel Meet for the Master’s Use
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • Serving the Lord with Humility
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland on the Internet
        • Booklet Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Story of Mamlotshwa
      • March 1998
        • A Minister of God
        • “I will yet for this be inquired of”
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • Godliness With Contentment
        • Protestant View
        • African Mission News
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • Private Prayer and Public Profession
        • Truth and Life
        • The Free Church, Psalms and Hymns
      • June 1998
        • Family Worship
        • Notes and Comments
        • Ma Ngwenya – Mother of the late Rev. B. B. Dube
        • Church Information
        • The Lord is Risen Indeed
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • The Pastoral Epistles
        • The Church of Scotland and the Bible
        • Mbuma-Zending Meeting – 1998
        • Three Characteristics of True Faith
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Three Characteristics of True Faith
      • July 1998
        • The General Assemblies
        • Church Information
        • The Scriptural Warrant for Creedal Subscription
        • The Pastoral Epistles
        • The Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • A Cambuslang Case of Conversion
        • Booklet Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Synod
      • January 1998
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • MaHlabangana
        • Winter Visit to Eastern Europe
        • THE NEW YEAR
        • The Church Built and Kept by the Lord
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • The Fruits of the Declaratory Act In the Free Church of Scotland
        • Redeeming the Time
        • African Mission News
      • February 1998
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • A Mission Day of Prayer
        • Church Information
        • Leaning Upon her Beloved
        • Brought Home to Heaven
        • Observing the Sabbath
        • Church Deputy’s Visit to North America
        • African Mission News
        • A Faithful Ambassador is Health
      • December 1998
        • When the Enemy Shall Come in Like a Flood
        • “My grace is sufficient for thee”
        • The People of the Great Faith
        • Sudden Conversions
        • A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ
        • “Give ye them to eat”
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • August 1998
        • The General Assemblies
        • Sermon – The House of Many Mansions
        • Lessons From the Doctrine of Divine Justice
        • Book Notice
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Paul Magaya – Lay Preacher in Shangani
        • Church Information
      • April 1998
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • The Mode of Baptism – A Defence
        • Notes and Comments
        • Protestant View
        • The Manner of Coming to Christ
        • Book Notice
        • A Lily from the Ukraine
        • Eastern Europe Mission
        • Church Information
        • Called of God
        • Threats to our Religious Liberties
        • Mazwabo’s Amazing Transformation
    • 2004 to 2011
    • 2012 to 2019
    • 2020 to 2022
  • Young People’s Magazine
    • 2012 to 2019
    • 2003 to 2011
    • 2020 to 2022
  • Gaelic Supplement – An Earrann Ghàidhlig
  • Synod Reports
  • Religion and Morals Committee Reports

Latest Articles

  • June 2022 Magazines now available online
  • Special Offers on New Books for June
  • Synod Resolution re The Church of Scotland’s Declaration of Friendship with the Roman Catholic Church

Recently Added Audio

  • Joyful expectations from God’s faithfulness. 27 Jun 2022
  • Jesus – the bankrupt sinner’s Friend. 26 Jun 2022
  • The life of grace in the soul. 24 Jun 2022
  • Free grace healing a sin-sick soul. 23 Jun 2022
  • ‘Not silent in the night’ 12 Jun 2022
  • Christ a Priest for ever 19 Jun 2022
  • Sitting at the King’s table 19 Jun 2022
  • A prophecy of Christ as King entering Jerusalem. 12 Jun 2022
  • The parable of the talents (2) 12 Jun 2022
  • A provision for sinners 5 Jun 2022

View All Sermons

Download Latest Issues:
The Free Presbyterian Magazine
Young People’s Magazine

Free Presbyterian Places of Worship

Browse the Church Bookshop

Special Offers on New Books This Month

Conversations with a Dying Man by Samuel Rutherford, £3.95

Old Paths by J C Ryle, £11.99

Mfundisi Tallach: A Man with a Burden for Souls by Catherine Tallach, £8.00

The Plain Mr Knox by Elizabeth Whitley, £6.39

Redemption: Accomplished and Applied by John Murray, £5.59

(Postage is extra.)
Available from the Free Presbyterian Bookoom.

Back to top

Website Contact

Rev Keith M Watkins
[email protected]

Moderator of Synod

Rev Donald A Ross
Free Presbyterian Manse
Laide
Ross-shire
IV22 2NB
[email protected]

Clerk of Synod

Rev Keith M Watkins
Free Presbyterian Manse, Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris, HS5 3UA, UK.
[email protected]

General Treasurer

Mr William Campbell
133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow,
G3 6LE, UK.
[email protected]

Copyright © 2022 Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland · Log in · Subscribe via RSS · Privacy Notice