A Protest
The Free Presbyterian Presbytery of Australia and New Zealand convened this day 23rd August 1973 in Gisborne hereby solemnly protest against the views expressed by the Rev. Ewing Stevens, Presbyterian minister in Dunedin, in his book “Jesus”. Mr Stevens’ statement that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier is a bare-faced lie, a contradiction of what the evangelist Luke under divine inspiration wrote in his Gospel Ch. 1:26-37. His teaching on the resurrection of Christ is also a lie. The eternal deity of the Son, His virgin birth, His atoning death, His resurrection, ascension and glorification in the human nature are cardinal doctrines held by the Church of God in all ages and in all lands. They are the doctrines of Christ the Faithful and True Witness. There can be no salvation, but damnation in the denial of any of them.
We reject, condemn and utterly repudiate the blasphemous effusion of the nincompoops of the modernistic pulpit. Shame and shame again that they should bear the name Presbyterian. Such views evidence the spiritual darkness of unregeneracy and the strong delusions of apostates from the faith. “If our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Cor. 4:3, 4.
Moderator: WILLIAM MACLEAN
Clerk: DONALD M. MACLEOD
Australians Awake!
The Anglican and other Reformed Churches in Australia should heed the growth of Roman Catholicism. According to the Bureau of Census and Statistics, Australia’s RC population has risen to 3,400,000, an increase of 13.5 per cent since the last census. Meanwhile, the combined total of Anglicans, Methodists and Presbyterians has declined by 4.5 per cent. These figures and the knowledge that the RC Church is heading to displace the Anglican as Australia’s largest denomination, constitute a great challenge to Australian Protestants, who should realise that their bounden duty, day in day out, is to preach and teach the true Gospel. Only thus, under God’s Grace, can they hope to save the majority of their countrymen from succumbing to Romish superstitions and political manoeuvres.
The Churchman’s Magazine — September 1973
R.C. Church and W.C.C.
Roman Catholic observers at a recent World Council of Churches meeting intimated that the R.C. Church is not to seek membership of the W.C.C. in the near future. It is the political policies of the W.C.C., which are in conflict with the political policies of the R.C. Church, that has brought about this cooling of interest by the R.C. Church. The Roman Catholic Church, however, will continue to co-operate with the W.C.C. in many fields, and no doubt later, when she considers the time opportune, will resume attempts to enter the W.C.C. on terms which are all of her own making and which will ensure that she dominates that body.
Ecumenical Advance
It is claimed that the International Commission appointed by the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury has reached unanimous agreement on the meaning and purpose of the Christian Ministry. “Among the subjects studied,” it is stated, “were the role of the ordained ministry within the life of the Christian community, its priestly nature, ordination and apostolic succession.” This gives an indication of the lines along which the agreement proceeded. This agreement on the Ministry, along with the agreement on the Eucharist two years ago marks a considerable step in Anglican-Roman Catholic concord.
Spiritual Re-emphasis 1973 (Spre-E ’73)
Delegates from 20 countries assembled in Earls Court, London, a month ago to attend meetings addressed by Dr Billy Graham, the American evangelist. Twenty years ago Dr Graham caused a great stir in the religious world in our land when he conducted huge rallies in London and other centres at which hundreds professed conversion. Subsequent testing proved, however, that many of these conversions were as the morning cloud and as the early dew.
In this recent series of meetings the same reliance upon emotional effect, as was so conspicuous in the meetings of the 1950’s, was evident again. Cliff Richards, the pop-star of the pseudo-evangelical world, provided entertainment, while a Swedish choir of teenagers provided a diet of pop spirituals. The true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ needs no such props and the true minister of Christ will disown them.
Let us long and pray for a day of the right hand of the Most High when the Lord will be pleased to pour out of His Spirit in true evangelical repentance and revival throughout our land. May that day come speedily!