The IRA continues its murderous course
IT was a matter for thankfulness to the God of providence that the IRA plan to devastate London with massive lorry bombs was foiled. But a fortnight later the IRA was triumphant after its two huge bombs exploded inside Lisburn barracks in Northern Ireland. Although placed and timed to kill extra victims, it was a mercy that no more than 23 people were injured. Sadly, one soldier died from his injuries and eight others are seriously injured.
The two-faced talk of Adams and other Sinn Fein leaders cannot hide the fact that this IRA return to war is intended to provoke a loyalist backlash. As a former IRA terrorist has said, “Far from worrying about it, the IRA will positively welcome it. Anything which helps to provoke a crisis of authority in Northern Ireland strengthens the republican movement. Every shot fired and every bomb planted by loyalists helps weaken the ethos of the union, and is grist to the IRA mill.”
Let us continue to pray for troubled Ulster, for the downfall of the men of violence, and for the gospel of peace to prevail in the province.
Sharp rise in crimes of violence in England and Wales
OFFICIAL police figures and the British Crime Survey both show the biggest increase in violent crime for eight years: a rise of 10.4 per cent to 330,000 crimes of violence. The highest rise, 58 per cent, occurred in Sussex. The crime of rape has increased by 14 per cent: much more than other sexual offences. Domestic assaults are three times what they were in 1981.
Humanity before the Flood was characterised by brutality. Scripture says that “the earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence”. Therefore God sent the Flood. God has promised that “the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh”, but He has not promised to withhold other judgements against national wickedness. These figures are yet another call to us to return to God: they are a sure sign that it is time to seek the Lord and humble ourselves before Him.
Britain suffering consequences of being a godless society
SOCIAL problems in Britain, including paedophilia and broken homes, are the result of society’s departure from religion, and its rejection of God and treating the Ten Commandments as unduly repressive. This is the view of a leading Church of Scotland minister who is convener of its Board of Social Responsibility. He is right, of course.
Neither did he overlook the deplorable fact that his own Church has a hand in this sad decline. He criticised the “faint hearts” in the Church who acted as if the consensus view was always right.
There is a profound need in the Church of Scotland, and in all branches of Christ’s visible church, of an awakening and reviving by the power of the Holy Spirit of God. National reformation must be preceded by the reformation of the Church. We cannot expect any substantial moral and spiritual betterment until this happens.