Over 70 young people of the Church attended the 1979 Young People’s Conference, which was held in Kilravock Castle, near Inverness, from Tuesday, 10th to Thursday, 12th April.
The first paper of the Conference was a study of the life and letters of John Huss, the Bohemian Reformer and martyr, by Rev. J. Brentnall, Dumbarton. John Huss (born 1369, died 1415), was one of the noble witnesses whom the Lord raised up on the continent of Europe just before the dawn of the glorious Reformation broke upon a world held under the spiritual and temporal thrall of the Church of Rome. Although little is known about the early spiritual experience of this man, his life, doctrine, and labours amongst the people of Prague and Bohemia amply demonstrate that he had been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son in the early years of the 15th century. As he was led into the knowledge of the truth, so he was led to preach the pure doctrines of the Word of God, and to oppose the sloth, avarice, immorality and hypocrisy of the Romish clergy, who kept the truth from the people by the innumerable superstitions, errors, and blasphemous corruptions of the word and worship of God introduced over previous centuries by the Antichrist of Rome. The enemies of the truth opposed Huss and those who were like-minded with him, culminating in a ruthless and merciless persecution, an unjust trial of his beliefs and principles, and his eventual martyrdom by burning at the stake. The specimens of John Huss’ letters which were read showed the love he bore to God and the doctrines of His word, and his earnest desire for the glory of God and the welfare of the souls of his fellow-sinners.
“The Value of Creeds to the Christian Church” was the title of a paper given by Rev. D. MacLean, Glasgow. Creeds are the expression of the exercise of the faith of the Church, and are based upon the inspired and infallible Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. While creeds are not inspired in the sense that the Word of God is, they are statements of divine truth insofar as they correctly state the doctrines of the Word of God. The arguments of those who, under a show of piety, oppose the use of creeds, was fully refuted. The dishonest and God-dishonouring subterfuge of those who wish to alter the Church’s understanding of the Confession (such as the infamous Declaratory Act of 1892 which resulted in the separate existence of the Free Presbyterian Church) was also exposed. The history of creeds and Confessions in the Church of God was considered, and the development of credal statements of the doctrines of the Bible over the centuries was illustrated, amply demonstrating the excellence of the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Catechisms as setting forth the doctrines of Theology (the doctrine of God), Anthropology (the doctrine of man), Soteriology (the doctrine of salvation), Ecclesiology (the doctrine of the Church) and Eschatology (the doctrine of future things), and refuting the various errors and heresies which have sprung up during the centuries and which continue to plague the Church in our day. The practical value of the Creed to the Church was also considered, as an instrument in the instruction of the people so that they may grow in the knowledge of the glorious doctrines of the Bible, as a means of discriminating the truth from false teaching, and as a bond of Christian fellowship. The Confession is binding upon men’s consciences as it is an expression of the doctrines of the Bible. The relationship of the Confession to members of our Church and especially to office-bearers (who take ordination vows of a solemn and binding nature to own and believe the whole doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith) was fully set forth.
Mr I. MacLeod, Dingwall, a former Police Officer, gave a paper entitled “The young Christian’s relationship to Law and Order,” which dealt with the present state of Law and Order within our society. Reference was made to the sad state of the Laws of our land whereby many sinful practices condemned by the Word of God are permitted, condoned, and even encouraged by our legislators. The point was rightly insisted upon that, when the Law of God comes in conflict with the Law of the Land, then it is the Law of God which must always be upheld, whether in civil or religious matters. Mention was also made of the necessity of complying with laws enacted for the safety and well-being of our citizens, e.g. traffic regulations, and of upholding the standards of the Word of God in our dealings with others.
“Is the Gospel suitable for the Young?”, a paper delivered by Rev. D. B. Macleod, Dingwall, considered first of all the woeful condition that all are in by nature through breaking the covenant of works. The nature of the Gospel remedy provided in Jesus Christ for the elect by the covenant of grace was set forth in its fulness, and Scripture proofs were adduced to demonstrate that Christ’s finished work is suitable for all. The Scripture doctrines of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility were dealt with. The suitability of the Gospel to all that hear it was considered, firstly in relation to men in general, and then in relation to the young. The absolute need for a genuine work of the Holy Spirit upon the souls of all professing conversion was emphasised.
Rev. D. Ross, Bulawayo, gave a talk on the religious situation in Rhodesia. He detailed the gross darkness which covered Africa before the advent of the Gospel, when the spirits of the ancestors and false gods were worshipped by all. Though much good was effected under the ministry of early missionaries to Africa in the 19th century, the scourge of Arminian teaching by later missionaries brought forth and continues to bring forth its evil fruits in the multitude of false “converts” and those who attempt to mix ancestor worship with the worship of God in the majority of indigenous African churches. There is a great need for the doctrines, form of worship, government and practice of Scripture in Africa, as elsewhere, in our day. The work of our Church’s Mission in Rhodesia since its beginning in 1904 under Rev. J. B. Radasi to the present day was considered. The effects of the current political situation and the harassment of our people by the terrorists was also detailed and, following the address, slides were shown which illustrated the Mission’s work under the present adverse circumstances.
On the final day of the Conference, Rev. D. MacLean, Glasgow, preached on Ephesians, chapter 1 vv. 13 and 14, following which the participating ministers answered questions submitted by those attending the Conference on a wide range of topics dealing with the doctrines and practice of the Bible.
Overall, the papers delivered at the Conference emphasised the pressing need for a heartfelt and uncompromising adherence to the doctrines, worship, and practice of Scripture for which our Church has always contended. We are living in a day of generalised religious and moral declension without precedent in recent times. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, both from the world and from carnal professors of religion. It is our Scriptural duty to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints in the strength of grace, for “them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” (I. Sam 2:30).
R.D.