The August 1922 issue of The Free Presbyterian Magazine contained comments on an article entitled, “Has the World conquered the Church?” that had appeared in a secular American magazine. The writer of the original article, commenting on the situation in the USA, concluded that it had. “Time was”, he wrote, “when the relations between the world and the Church were, to say the least of it, strained. His [the world’s] associations were bad, the flesh and the devil. Her [the Church’s] companionship was of another sort. She walked by faith in God. She was guided by the Holy Spirit. She not only renounced the world, the flesh and the devil, and especially all the latter’s works, she denounced them. Now things are different. Figuratively speaking, it is not going too far to say that the Church has been wedded to the World and that the World is now her married name.”
“This union”, continued the writer, “has completely changed her nature, character and motives. It has revised her convictions and conditioned her very pieties. She is now as truly the Church of the world as formerly she was
the Church of the living God.” He also mentions the Church raising funds not, as formerly, from her own church collections, but from her husband, the World at large. He speaks of intelligent, entertaining preachers who have “no convincing sense of the gospel they preach”.
Sadly, in the last 100 years, the greater part of the visible Church has plunged so deeply into the world that the writer would be astounded at what he would see today. Many churches have set aside the Word of God to accommodate modern liberal, non-judgemental views and practices; practising homosexuals are in pulpits and at the Lord’s table. Churches condone the evolutionary hypothesis and set aside the biblical account of creation and the Fall. Preaching concentrates on morality while sin and its consequences are ignored. A God of love is proclaimed, but the fact that He is also holy and just is overlooked. The virgin birth of Christ is denied; His miracles are explained away and the resurrection disbelieved. Having turned her back on the truths of the Bible, the Church is all the more ready to engage with the world in vain attempts to draw people, using music, drama, Halloween, sports clubs, the blessing of pet animals and so on.
An editorial in the same volume of The Free Presbyterian Magazine quotes these words of the Saviour, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve”. True worshippers must “worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him”. Paul wrote, “I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified”. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” With truths like these in Scripture, how sad it is that churches should continue throughout the decades to conform their doctrine and practice to the world. “The prophets prophesy falsely . . . and My people love to have it so.” How thankful we should be to have law and gospel faithfully declared from our pulpits; but “unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more”. FRD
Going on Holiday
With the Covid lockdown, there are probably many people in Britain who feel “cheated” and “hard done by”. They were looking forward to their holidays, perhaps in some interesting part of the world, but their plans have come to nothing. Others, perhaps, feel sorry for their children, whose exciting school and sports events have been cancelled, and who have, in a sense, “missed a year of childhood”.
In thinking along these lines, however, one soon remembers the Second World War and the disruption to travel and family life that it caused. Not a
few in Britain were absent in the Far East for several years and never saw their families in all that time; while some children in Europe spent part of their childhood hiding from the Nazis, and perhaps lost their entire families. This was the case with many Jewish children who survived the war. How many children there are now in the Middle East and in parts of Africa whose lives have been little different. It is painful to reflect on how comfortable we are by comparison, even under the restraints imposed by Covid.
It is a painful reflection for several reasons. One is that it shows how much worse things could be. There is no reason, other than the goodness of Divine providence, why Britain is not in a long-term war zone, with all the sorrow, suffering and deprivation that that would bring. The assumption that “things will soon return to normal” has no adequate foundation. Certainly the national reaction to the chastening hand of the Lord in Covid has shown no acknowledgment of God, no repentance, and no reason why the chastisement should be lifted. “For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still” (Is 9:12,17,21).
The reflection is painful too, because it is a reminder of the fruit of the godliness that should have resulted from our national affluence. “The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance” (Rom 2:4). “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Lk 12:48). Our nation has brought forth nothing of this fruit of repentance and godliness, and a bitter judgement is in store. This may not wholly be reserved to eternity but may begin in time, and soon. What fruit have we brought forth ourselves?
A third reason is that it is a reminder of the reality of human and Christian life. Life is seldom without trouble, particularly for Christians, to whom it is said: “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Pleasant holidays and easy childhoods are by no means to be taken for granted, but should be matters of continual and heartfelt thankfulness when they are granted. When they are withheld, partly or wholly, that too is to be a matter, not of murmuring, but of acknowledgment and thankfulness: “Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve” (Ezra 9:13). Too much affluence is not good for sinful man: “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me” (Prov 30:8). May the relatively light affliction of Covid yet have a blessed effect on Britain. “At the first He lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea” (Is 9:1).
DWBS
In His death [Christ] hangs like a malefactor upon the cross, but as Jehovah He bestows paradise upon the dying robber.
Robert Haldane
Church Information
Losses in Mbuma
Rev Nopel Sibanda, minister of the Mbuma congregation, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, 24 July 2020. He had undergone a minor knee operation when he collapsed and died. The whole church in Zimbabwe was left in shock. We express our sympathy to his family and also the Mbuma congregation for this great loss. We plead with the Lord of harvest to send forth labourers into his harvest. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Ps 116:15).
Mr James M Nkomo, elder in Makhwatheni, in the Mbuma congregation, passed away on Monday, 27 July 2020 after a long illness. It was a double blow for Mbuma congregation. We express our sympathy to the family. “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me, where I am; that they may behold My glory which Thou hast given Me” (Jn 17:24).
(Rev) S Khumalo
Perth Induction
The Southern Presbytery will meet in the Perth Free Presbyterian church on Friday, September 4, at 6.30 pm, and at 7 pm for the induction of Rev Alasdair B MacLean to the Perth, Stirling and Dundee Church Extension Charge, God willing. Due to the current restrictions because of Covid-19, attendance at the induction will be limited to the Perth congregation and members of the Presbytery.
(Rev) D Campbell, Presbytery Clerk
Post of Care Home Manager
It is a considerable comfort to many older people and their relatives that they can entertain the hope of being cared for in a Christian environment, should the day come when they are no longer able to live on their own. Ballifearny House, in Inverness, which is run by the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, seeks to provide such a facility. A traditional home, attractively situated on the banks of the River Ness, it has a 24-bed capacity and cares for the elderly. Endeavouring to maintain Christian values, it enjoys a good reputation with the Care Commission, as well as with health and care professionals.
After many years of devoted service, our present Matron is retiring in September, so there is a growing and pressing urgency for this appointment to be made. Applicants for this post must be in sympathy with the Christian ethos of the Home and a relevant management qualification in nursing or social care is a requirement. A further qualification in the Safe Handling of Medicines would be an advantage. Although able to rely on the support of the Home Committee, when necessary, the successful candidate would be
responsible for the overall running of the Home, reporting to the Committee on a regular basis. The post carries an attractive salary and relocation support would be available if required.
For an application form and job description, please contact: John G MacLeod (Clerk of the Committee), Ballifary House, 14 Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5SQ; tel. 01463 234679; email: johngmacleod@hotmail.com.
Synod Committee Meetings
In view of the continued uncertainties caused by Covid-19, Synod committees will meet, DV, by teleconference as follows:
Tuesday, October 6:
- 09.10 – 09.40 Church Interests Committee
- 09.50 – 11.20 Training of the Ministry Committee
- 11.30 – 12.30 Sabbath Observance Committee
- 12.40 – 13.40 Overseas Committee
- 13.50 – 14.50 Outreach Committee
- 15.00 – 17.00 Religion and Morals Committee
- 18.00 – 19.30 Publications and Bookroom Committee
- 19.40 – 20.40 Welfare of Youth Committee
Wednesday, October 7
- 10.00 – 13.00 Finance Committee (Rev) K M Watkins, Clerk of Synod
Overseas Fund
By appointment of Synod, the special collection on behalf of the Overseas Fund is due to be taken in congregations during September.
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, £100; Anon, to assist with the cost of wood burning stoves and fuel in the Odessa congregation from friends of the work in Australia (“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps 46:1)), £650.
General Fund: Anon, Ps 60:4, £100; Anon, £200; Estate of late Mrs Ishbel MacDonald, £947.92.
Jewish & Foreign Missions Fund: Anon, for Zimbabwe Mission Famine Relief, £350; Anon, Ps 60:4, for Zimbabwe Mission Famine Relief, £200.
Congregational Treasurers acknowledge with sincere thanks the following donations:
Dingwall: Communion Expenses: Anon, £50 per Rev AWM.
Inverness: Bus Fund: Anon, £20; Anon, for bus drivers, £20, £20, £20. Sustentation Fund: Anon, (April & May) £100.
Portree: The family of late Mrs Sarah MacDonald, £215 per Rev IDM.
The commands of the law, its admonitions, and even its reproofs, are acceptable to him who is desirous that nothing may be found in him on which God would look with disapprobation.
John Dick