Death of Elder
Mr Edward P C Greene of Oxford, an elder in the London congregation, passed to his eternal reward on 17 October 2018.
Letter to Police Scotland
The following letter was sent by the Moderator of Synod, Rev A W MacColl, and the Clerk of Synod, Rev K M Watkins, to Superintendent David Pettigrew of the Police Scotland Equality & Diversity Unit on 5 November 2018:
“We write as the Moderator and Clerk of the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland to express our deep concern at some of the issues raised by the recent poster campaign targeted at ‘BIGOTS’ by Police Scotland and the Scottish Government, and which seemed particularly focussed on preaching.
“In the first place, we totally reject the idea that it is the role of the Police or the Government to tell ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ what they can or cannot preach. We will never submit to the intrusion of the civil powers into the pulpits of our Church. When Free Presbyterian preachers declare the Bible’s condemnation of sin and its corresponding demand for holiness they will receive the full backing of our Church courts. It is thus for Police Scotland and the Scottish Government to respect the wide distinction which exists between the separate jurisdictions of the State and the Church. The civil and religious liberties outlined in the Word of God were dearly purchased by our Reformers and Covenanters and were secured to the Presbyterian Church at the Revolution Settlement and by the Treaty of Union and are intended to stand in perpetuity. We have the freedom to preach the morality of the Bible without fear to all of our fellow-Scots and we intend to continue to do that to the best of our abilities and opportunities.
“Secondly, we would like to make it abundantly clear that the Bible condemns homosexuality – along with all other forms of sexual immorality – as a gross sin even in its very inclination as well as in practice. We will ever condemn all breaches of the seventh commandment of the law of God in pulpit and in print. Your poster seeks to classify those who may be merely perceived as motivated by ill-will against homosexual or transgender people, as bigoted and also as not welcome in Scotland. You claim that “Scotland” does not welcome those whose sermons may be regarded as motivated by hatred or ill-will towards such groups in society. We totally repudiate the notion that condemning sins clearly specified as sins in the Bible is equivalent to being motivated by, and acting because of, hatred towards any individual or group of people.
“Indeed, it might well be argued that your own poster encourages hatred or ill-will towards Christians who criticise the sin of homosexuality in our nation. The Scottish Government and Police Scotland may exonerate themselves of such a motivation in their sponsoring of this poster campaign but that does not remove the possibility that some may be encouraged to think or act towards Christians in a hostile manner as a result of viewing these posters.
“The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland seeks to condemn all sin because we sincerely desire that sinners would be brought to repentance and salvation from sin through the love of God in Jesus Christ. Free Presbyterian preachers do not act out of hatred or malice towards anyone when they condemn sin, and to identify the condemning of sin with acting out of hatred is a confounding of two entirely separate and opposite matters. We are not ‘bigots’ and it is a pejorative slander to insinuate that the preaching of Biblical morality makes Bible-believing Christians to be such.
“Thirdly, we are firmly of the opinion that it is contrary to the principles of justice to recognise such a subjective definition of a ‘hate-crime’ or ‘hate-incident’ as defined by recent legislation and by your posters. Such matters ought not to occupy the valuable time of police and courts, which might be spent more profitably reducing real incidents of crime or bringing to justice those who actually have committed criminal offences. In light of your poster campaign we might well ask whether law-abiding Christian ministers and people are now in jeopardy of prosecution on the whim of anyone who may be motivated by hatred or ill-will towards the Biblical teaching on homosexuality or related issues.”
Matron for Ballifair Home, Inverness
The present Matron of Ballifair Home has indicated that she intends to retire in Spring 2019, DV. In view of this and the fact that the Home requires a Matron in order to function, there is an urgency in filling this vacancy. Applications are invited by the Ballifair Care Home Committee for this post, or with a view to training for it. The position is not only professionally rewarding but is an opportunity to care for the elderly and dependent in their later days. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me” (Mt 25:40). Applications should be addressed to the Clerk of the Committee: Mr John G MacLeod, The Cullins, Culloden Road, Westhill, Inverness IV2 5BQ.
College and Library Fund
By appointment of Synod, the second of the year’s two special collections for the College and Library Fund is due to be taken in congregations in December.
W Campbell, General Treasurer
Acknowledgement of Donations
The General Treasurer acknowledges with sincere thanks the following donations:
Eastern Europe Fund: Anon, Ps 60:4, for the Lord’s work in the Ukraine, £100.
General Fund: Anon, £150.
Jewish & Foreign Missions Fund: Providence Strict Baptist Chapel, Irthlingborough, £600.
Ballifair Home acknowledges with sincere thanks: Estate of late Miss Rhoda MacKay, £20 000.
Congregational Treasurers acknowledge with sincere thanks the following donations:
Barnoldswick: Dutch Friends, “For the proclamation of the experimental Calvinist doctrines in the UK, £60.
Dingwall/Beauly: A Ross, Contractor, Alness, £300; Estate of late Miss Rhoda MacDougall, £8000.
Duirinish/Bracadale: Communion Expenses: Anon, £150.
Glasgow: Anon, £20, £1500; Anon, £20, £20 per DWN. Bus Fund: Anon, £15, £10, £10, £10, £20, £10. Eastern Europe Fund: Anon, £90, £70, £70, £80, £70, £70, £70. Home Mission Fund: Anon, £100. Jewish & Foreign Missions Fund: Anon, £100; Anon, £40 per FRD. Outreach Fund: Anon, £10. Sustentation Fund: Anon, £200.
Greenock: Bus Fund: Anon, £10. Eastern Europe Fund: Anon, £100, £150. Jewish & Foreign Missions Fund: Anon, £60. TBS: Anon, £150, £70.
Halkirk: N Pearce, £140.
Ness: Anon, £100; Friend of the Cause, £40. Communion Expenses: SMK, £100.
North Harris: JE Maca, for Sabbath School outing, £20 per MM. Communion Expenses: FM, £60; ADM, £100.
North Tolsta: Anon, £200; £500. Communion Expenses: Friend of the Cause, £30; Mrs MacLeod, 10 New Tolsta, £40.
Portree: MCMP, £100; Joan C, £500 per Rev IDM. Communion Expenses: Anon, £50. Jewish & Foreign Missions Fund: Dutch Friends, £10. Sustentation Fund: Anon, £1000. Where Most Needed: Anon, £200.
Stornoway: Communion Expenses: Anon, £100.
The Free Presbyterian Magazine
2018
Volume 123
Editor:
Rev Kenneth D Macleod
Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee,
that it may be displayed because of the truth (Psalm 60:4)
Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
| Abundance of Peace
W K Tweedie | 59 | Congregational Contributions for 2017 | 94 |
|———————————————————————————–|———————————————-|——————————————————————–|——-|
| All Things Together for Good (2)
Robert Haldane | 20 | Deputy’s Visit to Zimbabwe June 2018
Rev I D MacDonald | 273 |
| Bannerman’s The Church of Christ: | | Eastern Europe Mission News
Rev Dmytro Levytskyi | 115 |
| 2. Aspects of the Church | 17 | Editorials: | |
| 3. The Power of the Church | 80 | Cities of Refuge, The | 65 |
| 4. What Does Church Power Deal With?
Rev A W MacColl | 105 | Comfort for the Forgiven | 257 |
| Book Reviews: | | God Justifying | 289 |
| By Good and Necessary Consequence
Ryan M McGraw | 121 | “Heresy with a Gilding of Orthodoxy” | 1 |
| Christian Remembrancer, The
Ambrose Serle | 219 | Hope in a Fallen World | 353 |
| Conversations with a Dying Man
Samuel Rutherford | 186 | “Intercession for the Transgressors” | 129 |
| Daily Thoughts from Samuel Rutherford | 89 | Sailing Towards the Final Haven | 33 |
| Doctor Who Became a Preacher, The: Martyn
Lloyd-Jones | | Satan’s Triumphing Is Short | 97 |
| Rebecca VanDoodewaard | 315 | Security for Those Who Are Justified | 321 |
| Duties of Christian Fellowship
John Owen | 345 | Sin, Separation and Salvation | 161 |
| Exposition of the Fifty-First Psalm, The
Martin Luther | 374 | Source of Salvation, The | 225 |
| Flowers from a Puritan’s Garden
C H Spurgeon | 185 | “This God Is Our God” | 193 |
| Greatest Fight in the World, The
C H Spurgeon | 251 | First World War Advertisement, A | 335 |
| Jan Hus
Oscar Kuhns and Robert Dickie | 25 | Glorified Understanding, The
Thomas Case | 41 |
| John G Paton
Paul Schlelein | 314 | Holy Spirit and Prayer, The
Thomas Boston | 49 |
| Learning About the Old Testament
Allan Harman | 156 | Homosexuality | 54,85 |
| Man Who Preached Outside, The: George Whitefield
Rebecca VanDoodewaard | 315 | How to Listen to God’s Word
Thomas Boston | 210 |
| Particular Redemption
John Hurrien | 119 | John Hooper – a Reformation Puritan: | |
| Woman Who Helped a Reformer, The: Katharina
Luther
Rebecca VanDoodewaard | 315 | 1. The Zurich Influence | 108 |
| Woman Who Loved to Give Books, The: Susannah
Spurgeon
Rebecca VanDoodewaard | 315 | 2. Three Books from Zurich | 141 |
| Christ as the Good Shepherd
W S Plumer | 138 | 3. “Mixed and Mingled Religion” | 172 |
| Christ’s Intercession
William Symington | 310 | 4. Put to the Test | 205 |
| Church Information | 30,64,96,128,
160,191,255,288,320,352,378 | 5. Work While It Is Day | 235 |
| Comforting Doctrine, A
J C Ryle | 118 | 6. Prisoner of Jesus Christ | 267 |
| Communicants and the World
James Grierson | 146 | 7. Faithful unto Death
Rev K M Watkins | 300 |
| | | Immoveable Rock, The
Rev Donald MacLean | 367 |
| | | Learning to Love Prayer
William Romaine | 249 |
| | | Luther and the Reformation: | |
| | | 13. Opposition to Luther | 12 |
| | | 14. Nothing but the Word of God | 43 |
| | | 15. The Disputation in Heidelberg
J H Merle d’Aubigné | 75 |
| | | Mbuma Zending Meeting 2018
Rev I D MacDonald | 214 |
| | | Needs of the Times: | |
| | | 1. Maintaining God’s Authority in the Bible and
Christian Truth | 276 |
| | | 2. Distinct and Decided Views of Christian
Doctrine | 306 |
| 3. A Livelier Sense of the Soul-Ruining Character of Romanism | 342 | Lord’s Jewels, The
Rev Alexander McPherson | 196 |
|————————————————————————————————————————|————————————————–|————————————————————–|———|
| 4. Practical Religion in Daily Life
J C Ryle | 365 | Mercy Pardoning Abundantly
C C Macintosh | 68 |
| Notes and Comments | 27,62,91,123,
157,187,222,252,286,318,348,375 | Objects and Recipients of Mercy, The
C C Macintosh | 100 |
| Nothing Impossible
James Foote | 170 | Prayer and the Peace of God
Rev H M Cartwright | 4 |
| Obituary: | | Son Learning Obedience, The
Charles Bridges | 292 |
| Mr Norman Thomson | 180 | Trials and Safety of Christ’s People
Peter Hope | 132,164 |
| Our Eternal Destiny
Rev D MacLean | 23 | Sin of Unbelief, The: | |
| Outlines of Sermons: | | 1. It Denies God’s Truthfulness | 182 |
| Faith in the Son of God | 149 | 2. More Reasons Why It Is so Serious | 216 |
| Plea for Reviving, A
John Kennedy | 316 | 3. Conclusions
W S Plumer | 244 |
| Path of Holiness, The
W K Tweedie | 315 | Some Thoughts on Soul-Murder
Thomas Boston | 275 |
| Personal Duties of Communicants, The
James Grierson | 178 | Spirit of Adoption, The: | |
| Prayer Before Hearing God’s Word
Thomas Boston | 148 | 1. A Privilege | 241 |
| Preparing to Hear God’s Word
Thomas Boston | 117 | 2. The Fear of God and Love to Him | 265 |
| Private Murdo Macfarlane
Rev J R Mackay | 332 | 3. Love and Communion | 297 |
| Profiting from the Word of God
Thomas Boston | 60 | 4. Trust, Obedience and Submission | 336 |
| Protestant View | 60,128,157,
221,255,285,317,347 | 5. Love and Communion
James Buchanan | 370 |
| Receiving the Lord’s Supper by Faith
Ashbel Green | 245 | Spirit Striving in Vain, The
Henry Law | 280 |
| Review Articles: | | Spirit’s Help in Prayer, The
Thomas Boston | 309 |
| That Greatest of All Questions
The Doctrine of Justification by James Buchanan
reviewed by Rev D Campbell | 51 | Synod Sermon: | |
| Seven Leaders by Iain H Murray
reviewed by Roy Middleton | 150 | Gospel or Another Gospel, The
Rev John MacLeod | 260 |
| Sermons: | | Ulrich Zwingli the Swiss Reformer: | |
| Examining the Heart and Life
Robert Gordon | 228 | 1. Before the Reformation | 340 |
| God’s Mercy Real and Infinite
C C Macintosh | 36 | 2. Glaris and Einsiedeln
F R Daubney | 360 |
| Jesus’ Delay After Lazarus’ Death
William Guthrie | 356 | Ungodly Alliance, An
Henry Law | 199 |
| John’s Vision of the Son of Man
John Duncan | 325 | Way of Escape for Sinners, A
Ashbel Green | 136 |
| | | Way to the Father, The
W K Tweedie | 248 |
| | | Why the Sacraments?
Robert Bruce | 113 |