The Outcry Against Sir Timothy Hunt
Sir Timothy Hunt is a retired British biochemist who won a Nobel Prize in 2001. In June of this year he caused a storm at a lunch for women journalists and scientists in South Korea by saying, in an unprepared and light-hearted speech: “Let me tell you about my trouble with girls. Three things happen when they are in the lab: you fall in love with them; they fall in love with you; and when you criticise them they cry. Perhaps we should make separate labs for boys and girls.” Following a “politically correct” outcry, he was obliged the next day to resign his honorary professorship at University College London, and two other scientific positions as well. A few weeks later the University Council unanimously confirmed the decision taken to accept Sir Timothy’s resignation. A number of eminent scientists, politicians, and newspaper columnists have criticised the University and supported Sir Timothy.
To the present writer, the main concern with the remarks as reported is the casual attitude to relations with the opposite sex. Sir Timothy is a married man, and one questions whether he should make public jokes about “falling in love” with other women. Otherwise the remarks seem harmless enough. They are cast in a dogmatic form, as is common with jokes, but they contain an element of truth. Men and women are often attracted to one another in the workplace, and women are “the weaker vessel” (1 Pet 3:7), one aspect of which is that they tend to cry more easily. Indeed both the matters raised by Sir Timothy are of some importance. The mixing of the sexes in the workplace can be a source of temptation and even a possible factor in marital breakdown, and this is certainly an issue to be discussed. Similarly, the differences between the mental constitutions of men and women cannot be denied. The same day that it reported on part of the outcry against Sir Timothy, The Daily Telegraph had another article with the headline, “Women who suppress emotions to act like men are making themselves ill”.
The outcry against Sir Timothy shows how ready fallen mankind is to judge others by standards that it would not like applied to itself. Those that condemned Sir Timothy must themselves give an account to Christ of “every idle word” that they have spoken (Mt 12:36). They will be judged with the same measure that they have used in judging others (Mt 7:2). Doubtless it will be found that they have spoken unadvisedly with their lips on many occasions (Ps 106:33). Isaiah warns against those that “make a man an offender for a word” (Is 29:21), and the spirit that drove Sir Timothy from his positions of honour for a trifle is not so distant from the spirit that cries “Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live” (Acts 22:22). Christians are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Mt 5:13,14), and one of the services that they can render to their community is to retain a sense of balance and biblical proportion when Satan is urging the world towards the sort of fanaticism exhibited in this case. DWBS
Anti-Extremism Laws and Christian Teaching
Conservative MP Mark Spencer has told a constituent about the Extremism Bill: “Teachers will still be free to express their understanding of the term marriage, and their moral opposition to its use in some situations, without breaking the new laws. The EDOs [Extremism Disruption Orders] in this case would apply to a situation where a teacher was specifically teaching that gay marriage is wrong.” Although Mr Spencer makes other statements apparently to the contrary, there is no doubt that teachers who teach that same-sex marriage is morally wrong will be in danger of having action taken against them under anti-extremism legislation. One must presume that Mr Spencer would not say so if he had no authority for saying so.
Simon Calvert of the Christian Institute has stated, “This is exactly the kind of thing we’ve been warning about. The Government say we’ve got nothing to worry about from their new extremism laws, but here is one of their own MPs writing to a constituent saying EDOs would stop teachers teaching mainstream Christian beliefs.” Governments may, under pressure from homosexual activists, try to banish criticism of sinful lifestyles from the classroom and society, but there is a God in heaven whose condemnation of sin cannot be dismissed and to whom promoters of iniquity are accountable. NMR
Website Promoting Adultery
Balak, King of Moab, desired to smite Israel in the wilderness and called Balaam to curse them. However, Balaam, though a false prophet, could do nothing but pronounce more and more blessings on God’s chosen nation (Num 22-24). But Balaam had another strategy, which worked only too well, as we read about the church in Pergamos. There we find that some held “the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication” (Rev 2:14). So we read in Numbers 25:1: “The people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab”. What an effect this now had on Israel, resulting in God’s solemn judgements!
Satan still has his strategies and agents to seduce sinners of all nations into ever greater sin and destruction. One device which has recently gained notoriety is a website masquerading as the second-largest dating site in the world but blatantly promoting extra-marital affairs. Reports indicate that over 37 million members in 46 countries have signed up to it – the majority of them are married and seeking to cheat on their spouses. Most are said to be men. Membership has increased by 35% over the past year, while revenue has increased even more, showing the sinful demand for this sordid activity.
Even more publicity, ironically, has been gained by the news that a computer-hacking group broke into the site’s database, threatening to disclose members’ details if the site is not closed down. In spite of this, it is still operating and one would expect members to feel in danger of exposure. However, the threat appears to have had little effect; an investigative journalist who recently joined the site, posing as a client, said that in a very short time she had 16 responses, 13 of them from married men.
The website originated in Canada and was set up by a couple with two children. Their motto is, “Life is short, have an affair”, claiming that adultery is good for a marriage and that “monogamy is dead”. Since 2010, when they launched their site in the UK, 1.2 million Britons have signed up: 1 in 20 of the married population. Most are said to be middle-class people aged from 20 to 50. The leader of the European operation boasts that, in spite of a ban on TV adverts for the site, the UK makes more money for it than any other European country. The company hopes to float on the London Stock Exchange, claiming that Europe has a “more relaxed approach to infidelity” than North America, having tried unsuccessfully to list its shares in Toronto.
Amidst this depressing news, it is encouraging to find a mainstream finance broker in London saying he “seriously hopes that any professional investor worth their salt will think twice before putting savers and pensioners’ money into this marriage-breaking organisation”. We hope and pray that others will agree and that the scheme will fail.
The organisation’s sinister aim is to keep expanding worldwide, especially in Asia, where great growth is expected. When the site in Japan opened in 2013, 1 million people joined in 8 months. In South Korea, where the gospel had great influence over decades, adultery was punishable by imprisonment; but last February it was decriminalised and 100 000 clients signed up to their site in just 4 weeks. This summer, further sites are planned for the Baltic states, Russia and the Ukraine.
So Satan and his agents are making great inroads throughout the world, seeking to oppose the spread of the gospel, using different avenues – perhaps especially the internet. Socially the misery is great. Several newspapers recently gave anecdotal evidence of how this and similar sites have caused great anguish and misery to families in Britain. Divorce is commonplace; one divorce lawyer states, “It’s an adulterous minefield. Every third client now has something to do with online infidelity”. Jo Welch, commercial director of support group, Women Scorned, adds that such sites have caused their workload to soar in recent years. She states, “It may have started in the US, but it is a trend that is growing frighteningly quickly in Britain . . . they break up families, causing so much pain and suffering”.
Recent statistical studies have supported the view that children of broken homes have a high incidence of behavioural problems, mental health issues and drug and alcohol abuse. The ultimate misery, of course, is not just social; it is spiritual. Jesus says, “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications . . . these are the things which defile a man” (Mt 15:19,20). If not repented of, these things lead to eternal destruction, for “whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Heb 13:4). How we need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the nations of the earth! We need to seek that day of repentance when there shall be a great mourning for sin. “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness” (Zec 13:1). KHM
Church InformationCommittee Meetings
These Synod committees will meet, DV, in Inverness Free Presbyterian Church as follows on Tuesday, October 6:
10.00 – 10.30 Church Interests Committee
10.30 – 12.00 Training of the Ministry Committee
12.00 – 1.00 Sabbath Observance Committee
2.00 – 5.00 Finance Committee
2.00 – 3.00 Outreach Committee
3.00 – 5.00 Religion and Morals Committee
6.00 – 7.30 Publications and Bookroom Committee
7.30 – 8.30 Welfare of Youth Committee
7.30 – 8.30 Dominions and Overseas Committee
(Rev) John MacLeod, Clerk of Synod
Dominions and Overseas Fund
By appointment of Synod, the special collection on behalf of the Dominions and Overseas Fund is due to be taken in congregations during September.
W Campbell, General Treasurer
FREE PRESBYTERIAN PLACES OF WORSHIP
Scotland
Aberdeen: 2 Alford Place, AB10 1YD, Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Tuesday, 7.15 pm. Rev D W B Somerset BSc DPhil, 18 Carlton Place, Aberdeen, AB15 4BQ; tel: 01224 645250.
Bracadale: Struan: Sabbath 12 noon; Wednesday 7 pm (fortnightly). Contact Rev J B Jardine; tel: 01859 502253.
Dingwall: Church, Hill Street: Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Beauty (Balblair): Sabbath 6.30 pm, Thursday 7.30 pm. Rev Neil M Ross BA, 10 Achany Rd, Dingwall, IV15 9JB; tel/fax: 01349 864351, e-mail: nmross2001@yahoo.co.uk.
Dornoch: Sabbath 11.30 am. Manse tel: 01862 810615. Bonar: Sabbath 6 pm, Wednesday 7.30 pm (alternately in Dornoch and Bonar). Laig: Church and Manse; Rogart: Church; no F P services. Contact Rev N M Ross; tel: 01349 864351.
Dundee: Manse. No F P Church services.
Edinburgh: 63 Gilmore Place, Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Thursday 6 pm. Rev D Campbell, 35B Barnton Avenue West, Edinburgh EH4 6DF; tel: 0131 312 8227.
Farr (by Daviot): Sabbath 12 noon. Tomatín: Sabbath 12 noon. Stratherrick: Sabbath 12 noon. (Each of these services is held once in three weeks as intimated). Farr: Thursday 7.30 pm (as intimated). Contact Mr M J Schouten; tel: 01463 221776.
Fort William: Monzie Square, Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm as intimated. Manse: 15 Perth Place, PH33 6UL; tel: 01397 708553. Contact Mr D A McKinnon. Tel: 01397 702597.
Gairloch (Ross-shire): Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm. Prayer meeting in Strath, Thursday 7.30 pm. Rev A E W MacDonald MA, F P Manse, Gairloch, Ross-shire, IV21 2BS; tel: 01445 712247.
Glasgow: St Jude’s Church, 137 Woodlands Road, G3 6LE. Sabbath 11 am and 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev Roderick MacLeod BA, 4 Laurel Park Close, Glasgow, G13 1RD; tel: 0141 954 3759.
Greenock: 40 East Hamilton Street, Sabbath 2.30 pm.
Halkirk: Sabbath 11.30 am; Thursday 7.30 pm. Manse tel: 01847 831758. Thurso: Sabbath 5 pm; Wick: Church; Strathy: Church; no F P Church services.
Harris (North): Tarbert: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Thursday 7 pm. Stockinish: Tuesday 7 pm. Rev J B Jardine BD, F P Manse, Tarbert, Isle of Harris, HS3 3DF; tel: 01859 502253, e-mail: northharris.fpc@btopenworld.com.
Harris (South): Leverburgh: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm. Sheilebost: Sabbath 12 noon (as intimated). Prayer meetings in Leverburgh, Sheilebost and Strond as intimated. Rev K D Macleod BSc, F P Manse, Leverburgh, HS5 3UA; tel: 01859 520271.
Inverness: Chapel Street, Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Contact Mr A MacRae; tel: 01463 790521.
Kinlochbervie: Sabbath 11.30 am; Tuesday 7.30 pm. Manse tel: 01971 521268. Scourie: Sabbath 6 pm.
Kyle of Lochalsh: Sabbath 6 pm. Manse tel: 01599 534933. Contact Rev D A Ross; tel: 01445 731340.
Laide (Ross-shire): Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Rev D A Ross, F P Manse, Laide, IV22 2NB; tel: 01445 731340.
Lochcarron: Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Manse.
Lochinyer: Church. No F P services at present. Manse tel: 01571 844484.
Ness: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Rev A W MacColl MA PhD, F P Manse, Swainbost, HS2 0TA; tel: 01851 810228.
North Tolsta: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Thursday 7 pm; 1st Monday of month 7 pm. Manse tel: 01851 890325. Contact Rev J R Tallach; tel: 01851 702501.
North Uist: Bayhead: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm (fortnightly). Sollas: Wednesday 7.30 pm (fortnightly). Rev D Macdonald BA, F P Manse, Bayhead, North Uist, HS6 5DS; tel: 01876 510233.
Oban: Church and Manse. No F P services at present.
Perth: Pomarium, off Leonard Street. Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Contact Rev D Campbell; tel: 0131 312 8227.
Portree: Sabbath 12 noon, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Rev I D MacDonald, F P Manse, Achachork, Portree, IV51 9HT; tel: 01478 612110.
Raasay: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Saturday 7 pm. Contact Rev W A Weale; tel: 01470 562243.
Shieldaig: Sabbath 11 am; Applecross: Sabbath 6pm. Tuesday 7 pm (alternately in Shieldaig and Applecross). Shieldaig manse tel: 01520 755259, Applecross manse tel: 01520 744411. Contact Rev D A Ross; tel: 01445 731340.
Staffin: Sabbath 12 noon, 5 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Rev W A Weale, F P Manse, Staffin, IV51 9HY; tel: 01470 562243.
Stornoway: Matheson Road, Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Thursday 7.30 pm. Achmore: Sabbath 12 noon; Tuesday 7 pm. Rev J R Tallach MB ChB, 2 Fleming Place, Stornoway, HS1 2NH; tel: 01851 702501.
Tain: Church and Manse. Fearn: Church. No F P services. See Dornoch and Bonar.
Uig (Lewis): Miavaig: Sabbath 12 noon Gaelic, 6 pm English; Wednesday 12 noon. Manse tel: 01851 672251. Contact Rev J R Tallach; tel: 01851 702501.
Ullapool: Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Manse: Quay Street, IV26 2UE; tel: 01854 612449.
Vatten: Sabbath 6 pm; Wednesday 7 pm (fortnightly). Glendale, Waternish: As intimated. Contact Rev I D MacDonald; tel: 01478 612110.
England
Barnoldswick: Kelbrook Road, Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Friday 7.30 pm; Wednesday 8 pm, alternately in Sandbach and Gatley. South Manchester: Sabbath 6.00 pm, in Trinity Church, Massie Street, Cheadle (entry at rear of building). Rev K M Watkins, 252 Briercleff Road, Burnley, BB10 2DQ; tel: 01282 835800.
Broadstairs: Sabbath 11 am, 5 pm at Portland Centre, Hopeville Ave, St Peter’s; Tuesday 7 pm at Friends’ Meeting House, St Peter’s Park Rd. Contact Dr T Martin; tel: 01843 866369.
London: Zoar Chapel, Varden St, E1. Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Rev J MacLeod MA, 6 Church Ave, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 6BU; tel: 0208 309 1623.
Northern Ireland
Larne: Station Road. Sabbath 11.30 am, 6.30 pm; Monday 11.00 am. Contact Rev K M Watkins; tel: 01282 835800.
Canada
Chesley, Ontario: Church and Manse, 40 Fourth Street SW. Sabbath 10.30 am, 7 pm; Wednesday 8 pm. Contact: Mr David Kuiper; tel: 519 363 0367. Manse tel: 519 363 2502.
Toronto, Ontario: Church and Manse. No F P Church services at present.
Vancouver, British Columbia: Contact: Mr John MacLeod, 202-815 4th Avenue, New Westminster, V3M 1S8; tel: 604-516-8648.
USA
Santa Fe, Texas: Church and Manse, 4031 Jackson St 77517. Sabbath 10.30 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Contact Mr Joseph Smith, 5222 Kendal Glen Court, Rosharon, Texas 77583; tel: 409 927 1564.
Australia
Grafton, NSW: 172 Fitzroy Street. Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev G G Hutton BA PhD, 174 Fitzroy Street, Grafton, NSW 2460; tel: (02) 6643 5692.
Sydney, NSW: Corner of Oxford and Regent Streets, Riverstone. Sabbath 10.30 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev G B Macdonald BSc, 60 Hamilton St, Riverstone, NSW 2765; tel: (02) 9627 3408; e-mail: sydneyfpchurch@aapt.net.au.
New Zealand
Auckland: 45 Church Street, Otahuhu. Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev J D Smith, 9 Pedlar Place, Conifer Grove, Auckland; tel: 09 282 4195.
Gisborne: 463a Childers Road. Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Contact: Dr G Cramp; tel: 02 7454 2722.
Tauranga: Girl Guide Hall, 17th Avenue, Sabbath 11 am, 7 pm; Thursday 7 pm. Contact: Mr Dick Vermeulen; tel: 075443677.
Wellington (Carterton): Senior Citizens’ Hall, 150 High Street North. Sabbath 11 am, 4 pm; 3rd Wednesday of the month (not secondary school holidays) 7.30 pm. Contact: Mr Hank Optland, P O Box 150, Carterton, 5743; tel: 02 7432 5625.
Singapore
Singapore: Sabbath: 9.30am and 5.30 pm; Beacon International College, 70 Martaban Road, Singapore 328667 (entrance is opposite 37/39 Mandalay Road); Wednesday: 7.45 pm, Lion Building B, #02-11, 12 Arumugam Road, Singapore 409958. Contact: Mr Bernard Yong, 4 Chuan Place, Singapore 554822; tel: (65) 6383 4466, fax: 6383 4477, e-mail: byong1@singnet.com.sg.
Ukraine
Odessa: F P Mission Station, 3 Pestelya Street, 65031. Contact Mr I Zadorozhniyi, P O Box 100, Odessa-91, 65091; e-mail: antipa@eurocom.od.ua; or Mr D Levitskyi; tel:00 38 048 785 19 24; e-mail: dlevitsky@gmail.com.
Zimbabwe
Bulawayo: Lobengula Township, PO Magwegwe, Bulawayo. Rev S Khumalo, F P Manse, Stand No 56004, Mazwi Road, Lobengula, PO Magwegwe, Bulawayo; tel: 00263 9407131, e-mail: skhumalo.byo@gmail.com.
Ingwenya: Church and Secondary School. Rev A B MacLean. Postal Address: Ingwenya Mission, Private Bag T5445, Bulawayo.
Mbuma: Church and Hospital. Rev N Sibanda. Postal Address: Mbuma Mission Hospital, Private Bag T5406, Bulawayo.
New Canaan: Church.
Zenka: Church. Rev M Mloyi. Postal Address: Private Bag T5398, Bulawayo; cell phone: 0026311 765032.