The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Tyneside Riots
The Archbishop of Canterbury was attacked by Government leaders and others when he claimed that social deprivation was the cause of the Tyneside riots. He defended himself by saying that the Gospel is about justice — and justice is about social issues. Had the Archbishop said that social deprivation was one of the causes of much crime and violence in our day he might not have been far wrong but the Tyneside riots fit more into the pattern of mindless violence which should never be condoned or excused in any way. A more obvious reason for the evils of the day must be traced to the failure of the main Churches in the land to set forth the glorious gospel of God’s grace through which sinners can be saved. When that gospel was set forth in the time of George Whitefield and others what a change spiritually, morally and socially came upon the land. Let the Archbishop require that only truly sent servants of Jesus Christ be ordained to the office of the ministry and require that they set forth only the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then, and only then, may we look for better things in the nation.
Release of Hostages
It would appear that at last, one by one, the hostages who have been detained in Lebanon, some of them for many years, are being released. It is sad to think of men imprisoned in cramped quarters for so long a
time as pawns in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel does not have the inhibitions which Western governments have in the taking of hostages in retaliation, and consequently has been able to provide bargaining counters in the exchange of hostages. It would seem that the Arab leaders have come to see that the continuation of this evil practice does nothing to enhance their prestige in the eyes of the Western nations, or further aid the settlement of the Palestinian problem. We fear that the long standing quarrel between the two peoples is likely to continue until Jew and Arab come to acknowledge the One who is “a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of His people Israel.”
Day of Prayer at Cheltenham
The parish rector of Cheltenham, Canon Geoffrey Hart, with the support of his Church Council has appointed a special day of prayer in view of the crimewave besetting the town and blighting the area. According to a Press report, he declared that “crime threatens us all, with murders in our streets and violence too common for comfort.” In his view the list of moral and social evils in our communities seems endless, and vandalism was common, all pointing to a malaise in our society which goes very deep. His Church is to be open to people of all denominations from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 12, with services every two hours.
There is little doubt that over many years the spiritual and moral decline in the nation has been accelerating. Men in high position and low came to the conclusion that religion could be dispensed with and the life of the nation would go on as before. The blame for this decline must lie first of all at the door of Churches which abandoned the gospel. Yet blame also must rest upon Governments which legislated contrary to the standards of the law of God, and on the media which catered for the fallen appetites of men. All this has produced the monster which no one knows how to tame. The action of Canon Hart so far as a day of prayer is concerned is a step in the right direction but the nation may have to sink lower yet before the whole nation is filled with alarm at the deteriorating state of the land and betakes itself to a throne of grace to plead for mercy and for the turning away of the wrath of the Lord from such a nation as this.
The Prime Minister meets ‘Gay’ Campaigner
The meeting arranged for Sir Ian McKeller, the actor, and campaigner for ‘gay’ and lesbian rights, at 10 Downing Street is to be deplored. It is reported to have lasted 40 minutes, in which the actor, a member of Stonewall, a homosexual pressure group was given the opportunity to pre-
sent to the Prime Minister his view that society was changing its attitude toward homosexuality and that changes should be made in the criminal law to prevent discrimination against those guilty of unnatural lusts. It is sad to think that the Prime Minister of the country would give any time whatsoever to a campaigner for the rights of sodomists. Britain is already paying a heavy price through the plague of aids for legalising sodomy. As a nation we have defiled our Statute Book with that vile piece of legislation. Not until it is forever removed from the Statute Book, can we, as a nation, expect to enjoy the favour of Heaven.
Alcohol in the Highlands and Islands
A survey by a group at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness showed that a large number of accidents at home and on the road were the result of heavy drinking of alcohol. The Highlands and Islands of Scotland have been plagued with heavy drinking for many years. During that time hundreds have gone to a drunkard’s grave and to a lost eternity. Many continue to set aside the warning of Scripture that drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God. How solemn for those who continue in this way to the end! Only the grace of God will truly bring a soul out of the bondage of this and other lusts. There is One who is able to save to the uttermost and He alone can rescue the soul in sin that lies. May the day speedily come when the Highlands and Islands of Scotland will be free from the blight of this and other ruinous evils.
Mission News
Ingwenya Communion was held at the end of September. We have not heard the details yet but rejoiced to hear that there was one male member received.
On Sabbath afternoons there is a gathering of little Primary children. Their mothers bring them. Each Sabbath they have a verse of Scripture to learn and a verse of a psalm. Last Sabbath there were 150 little ones. We hope the Lord will bless them and their teachers. One of the verses they learned recently was from Psalm 119, verse 18.
On the first Thursday of the new term at Ingwenya when the morning Prayer-meeting was held, there were about 800 present, one hundred would be adults and the others young people and little ones. One of the African ministers some years ago said that when he became interested in the truth he found the prayers of the Lord’s people even more helpful than the preaching.
At Mbuma the little ones are taught on Saturdays and the nurses and Doctor have great pleasure in meeting them and their mothers and in teaching them Bible verses. At Zenka the Communion was held in August with the Rev. A. B. Ndebele assisting the Rev. P. Mzamo. There were large gatherings but the late minister, the Rev. B. B. Dube was much missed.
It was with pleasure that the Mbuma staff welcomed Miss Anna Zekveld from Chesley, Canada. Her immigration permit arrived just the day before she arrived in Harare. Miss Margaret MacAskill will be leaving on furlough shortly at the same time as Miss Ishbel MacCuish will be returning home after assisting for three months in the John Tallach School.
The motor vehicles on the Mission are giving much trouble despite every effort to maintain them. Spare parts have to be bought in South Africa and tyres are bought in Botswana. One journey recently the driver had three punctures. Tax of 95% is charged on a new car entering the country.
Mr Vermeulen in his last circular letter speaks of a sermon preached by the Rev. P. Mzamo at the Communion at Sengera, the second Communion held in Kenya in connection with the Free Presbyterian Church. There would be about 300 present in the hospital building. Twenty-three communicants sat at the Lord’s Table. Mr Mzamo spoke on the three righteousnesses: the original righteousness of Adam which he and we lost, the second was the righteousness of the Law to which we could never attain, and then the precious righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ bestowed on all true believers.
Mr Vermeulen also mentioned an interesting occurrence which took place in Kenya. On his last visit there the Rev. A. B. Ndebele helped to translate some of the psalms into the Kisii dialect. Mr Vermeulen put them on his computer and, after they were sent back for final correction, he had them photocopied in New Zealand, and made into a small psalm book of 25 psalms. He posted them to Kenya in April, and they arrived in August and were received by himself! The Shorter Catechism is being checked and re-checked. Surely an onerous task, but the outcome should be of tremendous value. J.N.
Church Notes
Presbytery Meetings (D.V.)
Southern: At Glasgow on 5th November at 6 p.m.
Skye: At Portree on 4th February 1992 at 11 a.m.
Northern: At Dingwall on 21st January 1992 at 2 p.m.
Western: At Laide on 10th December at 6 p.m.
Visit by Deputies
Rev. J. MacLeod is presently visiting New Zealand and Australia. He expects to leave in mid-November for Africa where he will visit (D.V.) Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe before returning home, the Lord willing, at the end of the year.
Rev. D. Ross and Rev. N. Ross are at present in Russia visiting contacts in Kiev and other places in that part of the Soviet Union.
We would again crave the prayers of the Lord’s people for the deputies that they may be upheld in their duties and be brought back in safety to the United Kingdom. We trust that their labours in those lands will prove to the furtherance of Christ’s Cause there.
Review of Life of Dr Lloyd-Jones
With regard to the reference to Dr Lloyd-Jones attitude to Pentecostalism and the second blessing in the review of the second volume of Dr D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones life in the May 1991 issue of the Magazine, the Magazine Committee wish to state that the Church holds to the view on this matter expressed in the resolution of Synod passed in May 1986. (See F.P. Mag. Vol. 91. p.202). The Editor regrets that he omitted to make reference to the resolution of Synod in the review.
Theological Conference: It has been decided that the Theological Conference be cancelled for this year.