Further Legalised Desecration of the Sabbath
Parliament took two further steps in the legalisation of Sabbath desecration by approving in the Commons, the opening of off-licences from 12.30-10.00 pm on the Lord’s Day, and in giving approval for horse racing, with betting, both on, and off course, on the Sabbath. How blind are our legislators to the reality of the situation. God has decreed in His Word the Fourth Commandment which is binding on all men everywhere. By that law, as well as all the other laws of God, will men be judged in the last day. What madness then, on the part of legislators in this country, puny men, worms of the dust, to attempt in their folly to abrogate the laws of God, as though, by their action men are now free to act as though these laws never existed. Only one comment is necessary to show the folly of such actions and it is in the words of Him who cannot lie: “Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?”
Christian Worship in Schools
Head teachers have demanded that the Government withdraw proposals for daily Christian worship in schools. Almost 70 per cent of head teachers said that they would not be able to comply with the law. A recent study reveals, that hardly any schools fully comply with the requirements of the Education Act of 1944. How de-Christianised has our land become when, because of an immigration population of other faiths, there is no longer a place even for Christian religious worship in schools. It would appear that respect must be shown for every religion except Christianity, which must be taught apologetically, if at all. Yet Christianity is the only true religion and all others are false. What need there is of a revival of true religion in the land, so that true Christianity would be given its rightful place in Church, school and home.
The British Government and the IRA
After steadfastly refusing to clarify the Downing Street declaration on Northern Ireland, our Government have conceded ground to the IRA, by answering questions sent to the Prime Minister, through the Southern Ireland Prime Minister. Ulster Unionists warned the Government against being enticed into negotiation with the IRA. The IRA seem to be playing a cat and mouse game with the Government, while the killing of innocent civilians continues unabated. Instead of renouncing violence immediately, the terrorists say that they will give a response after the Euro elections on June 9, all the while holding out the hope that peace is just around the corner. It will be sad indeed for Northern Ireland, if the Government is taken in with the wily tactics of the IRA, and make further concessions to them. The close relationship between our Prime Minister and the Southern Ireland Prime Minister is not conducive to a just settlement in Northern Ireland.
The Pope and Women Priests
The Pope has very authoritatively declared that ordination was reserved to men alone. In his apostolic letter he has said: “I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful.” Cardinal Hume says, that this is not an infallible statement as such, but is nonetheless an authoritative statement. What the difference is between the two — an infallible and an authoritative statement — only the Cardinal in his imagination can know. Anyway it is a blow to ecumenism, though the R.C. Church has many ways of getting round what seem insurmountable obstacles. It would appear that the Princess of Wales’ mother has been received into the Roman Catholic Church. No doubt this further accession to their ranks is very gratifying to the R.C. Church, as can be gauged from the fact that Archbishop Winning celebrated the first public mass Mrs Shand-Kydd attended at Oban R.C. Cathedral.
Death of Labour Leader
The death of the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr John Smith, is a reminder of the uncertainty of time for each one of us. We know not the day, nor the hour, when we may be called to our account. What need there is to be ready when that call comes. The universal mourning at John Smith’s death shows the esteem in which he was held. He attended regularly the Church of Scotland. Such attendance would make him stand out as different from the generality of MPs.
An Historical Document?
Reports are appearing from various sources about a Document produced last March in the USA. Its title is Evangelicals and Catholics Together: the Christian Mission in the Third Millennium.
The document has been produced as the result of a consultation in 1992, involving Charles Colson — who figured in the Watergate scandal, and afterwards professed conversion — and Rev Richard Neuhaus, a Lutheran minister who has become a Popish priest.
For a considerable number of years, a group of American Roman Catholics and some Evangelicals, have been working together to secure such goals as parental choice in education, the preservation of traditional values of chastity and family life, as well as opposition to abortion and pornography.
But now matters have been taken a step further. The document, or declaration, has to do with Christian Mission, and seeks the co-operation of Evangelicals and Roman Catholics, not only in the matters mentioned above, but also in the propagation of the Christian faith. The statement allows that there are differences between these two parties, but take the view that such differences do not have an impact on Christianity’s core of essential beliefs.
This notion is difficult to accept, having regard to the fact that the infallibility of the Word of God and justification by faith are the basic doctrines of evangelicalism, and are the direct negation of the popish religion.
The document discourages the aggressive proselytization of each other’s flocks. This has led Rev John White, President of Geneva College, and former President of the National Association of Evangelicals, to say the statement represents “a triumphalistic moment in American religious life, after centuries of distrust”. He goes on to say “I really think it is an historic moment. I do not know of any other time in history when these two communities have stood together and spoken together on matters of faith.”
This is indeed the leap of faith that Evangelicals supporting this statement are being asked to take. They are to acknowledge as Christians Roman Catholics who profess to be “born again”. This ignores the fact that any Roman Catholic whose mind has been enlightened in the knowledge of Christ as the alone Saviour, will leave an organisation where He is so grievously dishonoured. All such hear the command with regard to that Church: “Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord,” 2 Cor. 6: 17.
This document is the product of the climate caused by the Ecumenical Movement, and and especially the Charismatic Strain, with its weak theology and its spiritual ignorance. The twenty-five page document has been publicly endorsed by prominent evangelicals. Among them are Pat Robertson, the TV Evangelist, Os Guinness, Mat Noll and, sad to say, J. I. Packer.
According to Christianity Today the Statement has drawn ire from the fundamentalist camp. Bob Jones III regards it as evidence that “the ecumenical church which will be the Church of the Anti-Christ, is rapidly forming”. The Church of the Anti-Christ, with its head, the Pope of Rome, was formed centuries ago. What this document tells us is how swiftly evangelicals are being swept into the apostasy.
D. MacL., Glasgow