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Many
and various are the answers you would receive, were you
to ask the question, What is Free Presbyterianism?
The ecumenically controlled national newspapers
of our land have for many years been answering this
question, but not always truthfully.
As a minister of the Free Presbyterian Church of
Ulster, I wish to answer a few of the many slanderous
and false accusations levelled against us.
Let me begin by stating what we are not.
1. We are not haters of Roman Catholics.
One of the most persistent slanders, spoken
against us, is that we hate Roman Catholics and urge
others to do likewise. This is utterly false. Never have
I or any other Free Presbyterian minister preached
hatred against Roman Catholics. Proof of this has been
wonderfully given by the Lord. In many of our
congregations we have converted Roman Catholics as
members. Were we to preach hatred, there would be little
hope of the conversion of Roman Catholics. One of our
ministers is a converted Roman Catholic from the Irish
Republic. However, let us say plainly that we have no
love for Roman Catholicism. There is a vast difference
between hating individuals and hating false doctrine.
Let me illustrate this. There can be no doubt of the
love of Christ for sinful men. His substitutionary death
on the cross, where He bore the sin and guilt of many,
is ample proof of his love. But the Lord Jesus does not
love sin. In Revelation chapter 2:15, Christ says the
following words, ".... the doctrine of the
Nicolaitans which thing I hate." The Lord Jesus
Christ hates doctrine which is contrary to His own Word.
For this very reason, Free Presbyterians are opposed to
the unscriptural doctrines of Romanism. We take the same
position in relationship to the Roman Church as our
Protestant forefathers. Men such as John Knox, John
Calvin, Martin Luther, and the founders of Methodism,
John and Charles Wesley, all took the view that Roman
Catholicism was unbiblical. Our desire is to bring the
simple Gospel of saving grace to the Roman Catholics of
our country and to see them set free from the bondage of
popery.
2. We are not people who seek to cause strife.
In Acts 16:20, we have an accusation made against
Paul and Silas. They are accused of exceedingly
troubling the city. Needless to say, this was a false
charge. What really happened was that an evil spirit was
cast out of a witch. When the men who made money out of
her evil practice saw the source of their profits cut
off, they seized Paul and Silas and cast them into
prison. Paul's crime was that he preached the Gospel and
exposed sin without fear or favour. Free Presbyterians
have, time and time again, brought the curses of
unscrupulous men upon their heads, simply by denouncing
the evil trends in Church and State today. Truth has
never yet caused trouble. Trouble comes from the enemies
of truth only. Surely a man cannot be blamed for the
actions of his enemies.
Let me now tell you what we are.
1. We are a people who love the Lord Jesus and
His precious Word.
Each communicant member of our congregation is
one who has been born again. We believe in the
old-fashioned doctrine of salvation by faith through
grace. (Ephesians 2:8) Praise God, we are of the old
school of theology - we believe the Bible. Our services
are not given over to essay reading and empty
sermonettes but rather to the preaching of the living
Word of the eternal God. 11 Tim. 4:12, 1 Peter 1:23-25.
2. We are people who stand for the faith of
our forefathers and resist modern ecumenism.
Scripture warns us that in the last days there
shall be a departure from the faith. But there were
false prophets also among the people, even as there
shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall
bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that
bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction
, 2 Peter 2:1. Little children, it is the last time: and
as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now
are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is
the last time , 1 John 2:18, See also 1 Tim. 4:1-6, 11
Tim. 3:1-5. Surely we can plainly see this departure
today. The historic Protestant faith is no longer
adhered to. The ancient creeds of the reformed church
are an embarrassment to the ecumenical clerics. John
Wesley's Notes on the New Testament, Presbyterianism's
Westminster Standards and the Episcopal church's 39
Articles of Religion are all creeds from which there is
departure and apostasy. We in the Free Presbyterian
Church recognize this departure, and in our desire to
remain faithful to the Bible and our consciences are
forced to remain separate from the apostate ecumenical
movement.
In 1951, our seceding church was constituted in
Crossgar, Co. Down. During the 46 years which have since
lapsed, our church has grown to over sixty congregations
in Northern Ireland with congregations in mainland
Britain, the Irish Republic, Germany, USA, Canada and
Australia. Are we wrong in separating? Is it wrong for
Christians to leave the ecumenical movement? The Bible
says No. Lack of space prevents me giving all the
Scripture references but 11 Corinthians 6:14-18 is
sufficient to illustrate the Bible's teaching on
separation. Be ye not unequally yoked together with
unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or
what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and
what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye
are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be
their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come
out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons
and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty , 2 Corinthians
6:14-18.
The weapon with which we resist ecumenism is
God's Word. By faithfully preaching it, we shall not
fail to topple the ecumenical Goliath which has invaded
our land. Reformation and revival is our aim and we know
that with God's help we shall see our nation turned back
to the old paths of Gospel truth.
Let me close with a verse and a question.
"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways
and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good
way and walk therein and ye shall find rest for your
souls...."
Jeremiah 6:16.
Will you obey God?
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