The Evangelical Presbyterian - March-April 2002

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    Evangelical Presbyterianis published by the Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

    Convenor of theEditorial Committee: Rev. Stephen Atkinson1 Lord Wardens DrBangor, Co DownBT19 1YF(E-mail: [email protected])

    Subscriptions:Annual subscription (six issues)Surface post: UK: 4.20

    Rep. of Ireland and Overseas 6.50

    Subscriptions enquiries to: Evangelical Book Shop15 College Square EastBelfast, BT1 6DD

    Donations:If any of the Lords people wish to help in the work of the Church,please send donations to the Honorary General Treasurer

    Mr. J. R. McCormick6 Eileen Gardens

    Belfast, BT9 6FW

    Gift Aid: Under the Gift Aid scheme the Church can benefit by Income Taxreturn on any donation from someone who pays tax.Contact the Honorary General Treasurer for further details.

    Internet: Visit the EPC Home Page on www.epc.org.uk

    CONTENTSEditorial - Sola re-joined with Scriptura 1

    The Churchs Job Description S. Atkinson 3Missionaries in Nigeria J. Garland 7Books etc. 11Hearsay Religion and the Religion of Experience J. Hunter 15Obituary 19

    News from EPCEW D. Cross 20Making Progress with Pilgrim (3) S. Atkinson 21

    Front Cover

    Cover Photograph by H. Gibson

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    Editorial

    Sola re-joined with Scriptura.When a child starts an argument withthe words, My dad is stronger thanyour dad we may laugh it off aschildish immaturity. When a teenager

    vehemently proclaims that Man U aredefinitely better than Leeds, thecontroversy is of a higher level, yetultimately of little significance.

    When religious controversy debates theMillennium, or the doctrinal merits ofinfra/supralapsarianism, the matter isnot of spiritually ultimate significance.

    But the controversy which concerns usin this editorial is vital. The Reformers

    watch-word of Sola Scriptura isgreatly under attack, if not already deadin many areas, and the battle to replacethe Sola in the Churchs motto isessential for the well-being of thepresent and the future.

    The early history of the EvangelicalPresbyterian Church (then named theIrish Evangelical Church) bears witnessto the necessity of such a controversy.

    When charges were brought in 1927concerning heresy being taught in the

    Assemblys College the concern wasfor Sola Scriptura. When subsequentlya number of ministers and believersbroke away from a denominationtolerating heresy, the concern was SolaScriptura.

    Consider the Enemys tactic in GenesisChapter 3. There was a diabolicalmisquotation of Scripture by theserpent coupled with an erroneousaddition to the command of God byEve which led to a distrust of the

    goodness of God, a despising hiscommand, and a brazen act of defianceand disobedience, theologically knownas The Fall. The consequences of Evetaking away from or adding to the

    Word were of ultimate signifiance.

    When the Second Adam came, Satanstactic of temptation was to twist theScripture but our Lord always met this

    with a forthright appeal to theinscripturated and unchanging Word.

    We sometimes forget that theReformers controversy was not simply

    with Rome, but they also faced the tele-evangelists of their day; theEnthusiasts. They were named suchbecause they trusted the God

    within (en theos). Martin Luther evensuggested a greater danger from theEnthusiasts than from Rome,because the papists had one Pope,

    while the Enthusiasts had a legion.

    We may not have a controversy todayover heresy in a college (or perhaps wemay!). But we do have a similar

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    Crumlin Evangelical Presbyterian Church

    Special Anniversary Services

    Visiting SpeakerDr. Joel Beeke (Grand Rapids, USA)

    Sat. 16 March 3.00pm: Appreciating the Church

    6.00pm: The Need for Mature Faith

    (Tea will be served between these meetings)

    Sun. 17 March 11.45am: Peniel: Place of Blessing

    7.00pm: Facing Affliction Christianly

    Wed. 20 March 8.00pm: Following God Fully

    Dr. Beeke is pastor and teacher in the Heritage Reformed Congregation,Grand Rapids. He is the author of numerous books, includingThe Quest for

    Full Assurance.

    Dr. Beeke will also be speaking in Erne West Church, Co. Fermanagh on the18-19 March, and at the Evangelical Fellowship of Ireland Conference in

    Lisburn on the 21 March. On the evening of the 21 March, he will speak atStranmillis Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Belfast, at 8.00p.m.

    For further details ring 028 9445 2247

    controversy of ultimate significance,concerning the same vital theme of SolaScriptura.

    Charismatic figures will come with aword from the Lord. Books arepublished full of such prophecies.Neo-evangelicalism will permit ameasure of liberty on the finality andsufficiency of Scripture, and theimmature church is tossed to and fro,unsure of how to discern truth fromfalsehood.

    Wed to this the danger of individualismand lack of respect for the authority ofthe preached Word, and you haveserious problems afoot. RC Sproul

    recently commented on this danger,With me and my Bible, I can speakinfallibly. - Many do!

    We must return to re-joining Sola withScriptura, permitting no diabolicalintrusions into the complete Word forthe complete man (2Tim 3:17).

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    1. The Distinct Privileges of theChurch

    We can blame many things for thecurrent state of the Church, and much

    perhaps is true. There is a pervasiveworldliness in pulpit and pew. Thereis a carnality in the work and witness.

    We can blame society. We can blame

    the liberals. We can blame the young.We can blame the spineless ministersand elders. But casting blame does notsolve anything; returning to theindicatives does. We need to learn

    what we are. If you are a dog, bark. Ifyou are the Church of Jesus Christ, bethe Church of Jesus Christ, and stopplay-acting as something else.

    EPC Pulpit(We plan to include a regular sermon spot from the present ministers of the denomination. This

    sermon was preached by the Rev Atkinson on the first Sunday of his ministry in Knock

    Evangelical Presbyterian Church in March 2001.)

    - The Churchs Job Description:Proclaiming the Praises -

    by Stephen Atkinson

    You would expect a dog to chase cats, a cat to chase mice, and a goldfish toswim around the bowl. And of course, pigs cant fly. What we are determinesmany of our normal behavioural patterns.

    At a recent conference Sinclair Ferguson posed the question as to what kind of

    sermons were needed today - Ought to sermons - or How to sermons. Hesuggested both were deficient, and his advice ringing in my ears was, Go backto the indicatives of the New Testament to sustain the imperatives.

    Im glad he also explained that one for me. It means that we must learn what weare, and this will root, ground, and enable us to be what we ought to be. In1Peter 1:9,10 we have both indicatives and imperatives:

    But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own specialpeople, that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into

    his marvellous light.

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    (i) A Chosen GenerationYou and I did not have any naturalchoice in our birth. Naturally speaking,

    it was through the will of our motherand father. But creatively our life wasmade in the will of the Lord. Of all thebillions of humans that have walkedthis earth there has never been anyonelike you. The combinations of spermand egg could have made 300,000billion other people, but God chose tomake you.

    If our natural generation is an amazingchoice of God (not a random spermand egg union), then multiply into therealms of eternity as we try to considerthe sovereign plan of God to form achosen species; the community of thetwice born. Though we cannot fathom

    it, as billions are passed by, you,believer, are a chosen generation.

    (ii) A Royal PriesthoodI remember being present in

    Westminster Abbey at the 350thanniversary celebrations of the drawingup of the Westminster Confession of Faith.

    It was a public place and people wereallowed to walk about, while we hadreceived permission to hold a service.

    We listened to the doctrines of gracebeing proclaimed, and at the same time

    we saw some pitiful souls at the sidelighting candles.

    We, royal priests, had a right of access

    that these poor souls with their wishlists knew nothing of, and sadly, the

    Abbey encouraged their ignorance.

    As royal priests we have acommissioned task, and so thisindicative must drive the imperative.

    The dog can choose or choose not to

    chase the cat, depending on whether heis a lazy dog. We are royal priests andcannot afford the luxury of suchlaziness.

    (iii) A Holy NationWith the recent events in the farmingworld the push is on to be a Foot and

    Mouth free nation. The believingpeople of God, the Church, is a sin-freenation. We are declared so through theblood of Christ. But we must live up tothe name.

    As healthy animals must needs beslaughtered to circle and eradicate thethreat and the disease, so harmlessthings may also need to be sacrificed inthe pommelling work of self-disciplineand sanctification.

    If we asked what are the characteristicsof an Islamic nation, people wouldimmediately suggest things like,Alcohol-free, Subjugation of

    women, or even, Bearded! TheChurch must realise that she is A HolyNation, and upon understanding theindicative, be stimulated to theimperative: - Be what you are.

    (iv) A Possessed PeopleThe phrase is literally, a people for

    possession. What does it mean then tobe possessed? It suggests ownership,servanthood, rule and respect. And

    while being bond-slaves, we are also his

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    special children, upon whom He placesunknown value.

    I have inscribed you on the palms of my

    hands (Isaiah 49:16)Now before we come to the Be whatyou are stage, I must challenge you all.

    Are these things true of you? Are you aChristian? Have you turned from yoursin to the Saviour? If this is truly yourexperience then these indicatives aregloriously yours. Yet, gloriously yours

    with responsibility.

    It is so that... As Peter tells us whatwe are, it is to inspire us to chasecats. The Distinct Privileges are forDeclarative Purposes.

    2. The Declarative Purposes ofthe Church

    ... that you may proclaim the praises ofhim...

    The original has the sense ofproclaiming something important. Theannouncement should be made withauthority.

    (i) Declaring with Authority.A countrys ambassador has somesense of the authority of his position.He speaks on behalf of a nation. Hehas personal status in his office, and hedisplays authority in doing his duty.

    We are rightly called ambassadors for

    Christ. Called, commissioned andauthorised to go and disciple nations,

    we must speak the message withauthority.

    The proclamations from the pulpit areto be delivered, and listened to ashaving authority. The witnessing, by

    word, and deed, is to be done with

    authority. How often a few limp wordsare pathetically uttered in the hope thatsomeone just might give us asympathetic hearing!

    The Churchs job description - thebarking of this dog - is to declare to the

    world that Christ is King. Satan is acrushed, bound, and defeated foe. Wehave a statement to make.

    Much of church life is taken up withrather trivial things. Much of our timeis taken up in making comments,assessments, often about each other.But we must realise that we have acorporate task to declare the message

    of God with authority.

    Another distraction from Satan is topermit us to retreat into a form ofreformed monasticism. He will allow usto go and read our books, attend thosegood meetings, have wonderfulspiritual fellowship, and all the whilethe world is dying for lack of the

    solemn delarations of God concerningHeaven and Hell.

    There are two seas in Israel. One is inthe north and the other in the south.

    Water flows from the mountains ofHermon into the Sea of Galilee. Waterflows out of the Sea of Galilee, into the

    River Jordan, and down to the DeadSea. The Sea of Galilee takes in andgives out. The Dead Sea takes in. TheSea of Galilee is good for fishing. TheDead Sea isnt - its dead!

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    Do you see the lesson? If, as a church,we exist by only taking in, we become adead sea. But if we take in, and giveout, we carry out our commission, and

    there will be fish in our waters.

    Let us drink in an authoritative Word,and also let us go forth with anauthoritative Word.

    But what is the content? What exactly isthe detail of the job description? Whatis it we are to proclaim again? - the

    praises.

    (ii) Declare the Praises.The original word has the sense ofmoral excellence, and perfections.

    We, who are graced with the privilegeof being a chosen generation, a royal

    priesthood, a holy nation, and his ownspecial people, have a glorious honourand responsibility. We are to declarethat God is excellent and perfect. Weare to declare God as God. Tell out mysoul the greatness of the Lord. TheGod-ness of God is to be ourproclaimed message.

    It is important that the God presentedfrom our pulpits, and presented in our

    workplaces is the God who isexcellently displayed in Scripture. Moreoften than not God is displayed as apathetic divinity trying to save a worldthat doesnt want him. The preacher

    will try to make people sympathetic,

    and feel sorry for God, and feel theyreally must succumb to the pitiful loveof Jesus on the cross.

    Instead, the attributes of God must bedelivered from pulpit and pew to renewin our day a fear of God. When sinnersare made aware of what it is like to be

    in the hands of an angry God, andsaints are thrilled at the thought of Iam His, and He is Mine, then theChurch is carrying through theimperative.

    I recently heard of a localdenomination advertising for more

    ministers. It would appear the numberof new students is falling. The adverttried to induce people to the job bysuggesting Good career prospects.

    What a sad day if this is where theChurch of today finds herself. I trustthe EPC shall never succumb to suchdepraved thinking.

    As a minister of Christ, I am not in itfor career prospects. I have the highestcalling given to man: to declareauthoritatively the praise-worthy Nameof Christ to saint and sinner alike.

    But then Peter didnt just say the wordsof our text to ministers. He said it to

    the elect of God. Those who are gracedas such, are to bark!

    When you realise the graciousindicative you are driven to the gloriousimperative. When you see what you are,you will endeavour to be what youought to be.

    God help us to fulfill such a highcalling.

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    Missionaries are Normal!When I was growing up I learnedsomething very important. Missionariesare not necessarily out of the ordinary,super-spiritual people who hear fromGod in a way that regular mortals dont,nor do they necessarily have greatinsights not shared by the usual youngperson who knows Jesus Christ asSaviour. And how did I learn this?Rarely did a few months pass in ourhome near Templepatrick, when we didnot have these rare creatures, calledmissionaries, staying with us. And as Igot to know them I found out they arenormal! That was one of the firststeps in Gods preparation of my life for

    work overseas. By Gods grace, among

    our own family circle, we hadmissionaries in India, China, and Japan,and my mother was prayer secretary toothers in Liberia, so I grew up hearingabout mission work in Asia and Africa.

    I had given my life to Jesus as a verysmall girl. It was at a point when my

    mother read me the story of Jesus dyingon the cross for my sins. Like manyyoung people brought up in a Christianhome, that early decision was repeatedseveral times as a teenager, as I

    sometimes doubted that I was really Hischild. I wanted to make my parents

    faith my very own. Many times I offeredmy life to God for His use, and toldGod that if He wanted me to gooverseas to serve Him I would be willingto do that too. It was partly with this inmind that I decided to be a nurse, adecision I will never regret, since thepractical training has been so valuable in

    different areas where I have worked.Philadelphia and FinaghyBefore my 21st birthday I met SidneyGarland, and four months later we knewthat we would one day be married andserving God together. Those wereexhilarating days. We were both young,

    but our fervour for God, eagerness formission, and love for each other weresweet delights that we shared. We bothhad a great excitement about what Godcould do for us and through us. Sidheaded off to Westminster Seminary fortwo years, while I finished my generalnursing training, a psychiatric course and

    my midwifery training. We were marriedin Lylehill Presbyterian Church in 1976when we were both 23 years of age, andI joined Sidney in Philadelphia. I workedas a nurse while he finished his M.Div.

    The Regions BeyondSidney and Jean GarlandMissionaries in Nigeria since 1987

    As told by Jean Garland

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    and started his MTh.

    After Sidney graduated fromWestminster, we came back to Belfast,

    and he was called to be minister ofFinaghy Evangelical PresbyterianChurch. The people of Finaghy werelong-suffering with their younginexperienced pastor and the inexpertpastors wife as we endeavoured to servethem for nine years. Peter, Debbie and

    Anna were born during that time. In

    those years, God also give us theopportunity to serve with Life, the pro-life, anti-abortion group and I now seethis work as part of His preparation timefor me. It taught me skills needed forhelping young people in very difficultsituations and for future work in the

    Aids programmes in Nigeria.

    Samuel Bill TheologicalCollege, NigeriaIn 1986 God began to speak to us aboutserving him overseas. Those wereexhilarating days as we scrutinized andprayed about various openings forservice. The life and ministry of Rev. Bill

    Leach prompted us to think about QuaIboe and Nigeria. Taking courage, andbeing persuaded that God was leadingus, we applied to Qua Iboe Fellowshipto go to Samuel Bill Theological Collegefor only a two-year period. Sidney wouldteach young men training for thepastoral ministry, and I would teach ourthree children. Looking back on thosedecision-making days now, it was aconsiderable step to pull the children outof Finaghy Primary School, pack up, letour house, and head off to the bush of

    South East Nigeria.

    For the next two years we experiencedand absorbed Nigerian church life in

    SBTC, Abak, in Akwa Ibom State. Sidnever failed to come home from theclassroom full of enthusiasm at thehonour of teaching his students. Iestablished a small classroom in anempty house on our compound andeach weekday the three children and I

    went to school from 8 am to noon.

    Dealing with the sweltering muggyclimate proved to be one of my biggesthurdles. In the classroom my threepupils would have no shirts on, and thecondensation would build up on theirbacks by 10am. Pencils would slip fromtheir hands, and they would wilt half

    way through the morning. So we boughta small portable generator that ran afanone of our best decisions. Whennot in school the children loved Africanlife. They ran barefoot with theirNigerian friends, climbing and namingtrees, burying each other in the darkmud, and making up imaginativedramas. They were extremely happy andapart from malaria now and then, very

    healthy.

    In the afternoons, I used my nursingskills to run a small dispensary for thetheological students. This way I got toknow them and to pray for and withthem when they were ill. Learning howto run a home in this remote corner of

    Nigeria was a challenge. It took me mostof the first two years to learn how tomake good yeast bread, and developrecipes using local foods.

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    Theological College ofNorthern Nigeria

    As the two years passed in Nigeria, God

    spoke to us about staying longer. ANigerian missionary leader, BayoFeminure, spoke at a mission conferenceat Abak. As he told us of the manymillions in Nigeria who have neverheard about Jesus, we both felt that God

    was speaking to us. Like many before us,Africa had invaded our hearts.

    After furlough, we moved 500 milesfurther north to the Theological Collegeof Northern Nigeria (TCNN) at Bukuru.

    This meant that Sid could continue toteach theology, and mission, and that thechildren could now go to HillcrestSchool in Jos, twelve miles furthernorth, where many of their friends were

    boarders. We have been very privilegedto have our children live with us inNigeria. All three have received a

    wonderful education at this Americanmission school, with opportunities forsports, drama, and music as well as a

    wide general education. Peter leftNigeria in 1997, and is studyingmedicine at Queens University Belfast.Debbie left in 2000 and is doing anursing degree in Jackson, Tennessee,and this year Anna finishes in Nigeriaand will probably come back toNorthern Ireland and to Queens.

    God opened doors for me to serve himin Bukuru too. Our home became ahospitality centre for many. God gaveme two good helpers in the house whohave been with us now for the past11years. These ladies, Dorcas and

    Angelina, have learned to clean andcook and have allowed me time andenergy to work outside the home. Wemake our own bread, cakes, biscuits,

    yoghurt, breakfast cereals, and sauces.Food preparation takes so much longerthan at home, and the dust and dirt onthe concrete floors needs daily attention.

    At TCNN, I supervised a PrimaryHealth Clinic which served the collegecommunity and the surrounding area. Itis a busy place. I also led a womens

    Bible Study group for 8 years under theumbrella of Bible Study Fellowship. Theopportunities for fellowship and learning

    with Nigerian women during thosestudies have been the nearest that I haveever been to heaven on earth. I haveoften been in sharing times withNigerian women and have just wanted

    them not to stop.

    In 2000, we moved from Bukuru to Jos.Jos is at the interface between thepredominately Muslim north of Nigeriaand the predominantly Christian south.Militant Islam, in its endeavour toimpose Muslim law on Nigeria, has beenpushing south which has led to recent

    civil unrest, with much death anddestruction in Jos. But it has also been atime to emphasise the truths of theChristian faith, which teaches a love forothers, and a time for Islam to beexposed as a religion devoid of realhope.

    The Aids MinistryA combination of my nursing training,experience of working with Life, learning

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    in the medical field in Nigeria,absorbing some of Nigerian culture,and a compassion that comes from

    Christ himself, have helped me tominister into the crisis ofAidsinNigeria. I have been working withseveral different Aidsministries inNigeria. Primarily I was asked to work

    with Fellowship of Christian Students,which is affiliated to Scripture Union,Africa. This has entailed a lot oftravelling and training others, e.g.pastors, teachers and youth workers, todo Aidseducation for those in theircare. This involves training in the factsabout Aids, how to avoid it, and how tocare for and counsel those living withHiv/Aids. But it also involves trainingyoung people in life skills, based onGods word, so that they will not be in

    danger from Aids. As many as 2 out ofevery 10 young people in Nigeria aredying from Aidsand need to know

    Jesus. It is hard to imagine the scale ofthe problem faced by the Africanchurch. Aids is an issue that almostevery pastor and extended family deals

    with frequently. Personally I have

    several friends dying from Aids.

    Other Aidsministries involve co-writingAidscurriculum for the FederalGovernment of Nigeria for use byPrimary and Secondary school ChristianReligious Knowledge teachers. I alsohave the opportunity to serve on theAidsministry supervisory committeesfor two major denominations inNigeria. God giving me the ability to

    write booklets about Aidsfor use by

    young people seems to have provedbeneficial to many.

    God is Totally GoodMy testimony is overwhelmingly one ofGods provision for us and goodness tous. As both Sid and I rapidly approachfifty, we do not feel that our lives to thispoint have been times of hardship, lossand deprivation. True, we and ourchildren have had our struggles,

    especially with separation, sickness, andadjustment to other cultures. But Hehas given us the joy of rewardingservice, and the delight of seeing otherscome to faith in Him. He has given uscrises from time to time that havecaused us lean back on Him and helpedus to prove that even in sickness or

    loneliness, God is totally good. As wehave stepped out in obedience to Him,He has provided for our needs in everyarea. As a family, we often literallylaughed out loud at Gods goodness tous as we proved over and over that

    when we repeatedly give to others, bothin monetary terms and materially, Godjust kept giving even more back to us.Our children appreciate other cultures;they love the Lord, and desire to keepserving Him too.

    By Gods grace, I want to continue toserve the purpose of God in mygeneration. I want to continue to givemy life for something that will last

    forever. May God help me to do this!

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    Books etc.God's Lesser Glory - a critique

    of open theism

    Bruce A. Ware

    Apollos I.V.P (Leicester 2000)

    240 pages 11.99

    Reviewer: Andrew Woolsey

    God does not know exactly what willhappen in the future. This quotation(p.173) from one of the advocates ofopen theism alerts us to the basic issueat the heart of a debate that is takingplace in the evangelical theological

    world. The ideas inherent in opentheism have been floating around sincethe early 1980s, but today morearticulate propagators of the theory arebidding for a place at the theologicaltable of evangelicalism. Bruce A. Warehas written this discerning and thoroughcritique to make us aware of the sourcesand of the dangers inherent in themovement.

    God genuinely does not know (i.e.

    does not know the free actions of hiscreatures). God may receive newinformation. God learns from whathappens (One shuddering example ofthis is where a leading open-theistteacher suggests that only at a givenmoment in the Garden of Gethesmane

    did the Father along with his Son learn

    that Christs death on the cross willbe necessary). God may besurprised by what develops. God is, as

    it were, taken aback by this

    occurrence (i.e. the fall of man). Godcorrects his mistaken beliefs. Godhimself says that he was mistaken about

    what was going to happen. God may conclude that he simply did not getthings quite right. This is a sample ofquotations in which Ware points out ina courteous but uncompromising

    manner some of the implications ofopen theism, and how they impact ourbelief in the omniscience, theomnipotence, the omnipresence, andthe omnisapience of God. He alsohelpfully deals with some of theimplications for the Christian life,especially in the areas of prayer,guidance, and suffering.

    Ware realizes, however, that opentheism is here to stay, and that it is notenough merely to point out the dangersof the theory in its shift from traditional,biblical theism. As conservativeevangelicals we must work hard tocarefully and consistently exegete those

    passages of Scripture used by opentheists in order to bring grit to their mill.

    Ware takes time to do this. As the titleindicates, his great concern is for Godsglory. He says, Divine demotion andhuman elevation work together in opentheism and asks, What will God sayof this view that so robs him of his

    rightful and exclusive claim to infiniteglory (Isa. 42:8)? Read the book, andfind out what our response should be tosuch a question!

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    Dare to Stand Alone

    Stuart Olyott,

    Evangelical Press

    176 pages (reprint) 6.95Reviewer: Hazel Moore

    The book of Daniel is a tale of twokingdoms: the kingdom of darknessand the kingdom of light. It is a battle

    we are so often oblivious to, yet inDare to Stand Alonewe are broughtface to face with its reality.

    We are brought to notice Daniel andhis friends at only fourteen years of agemaking a stand, and speaking out withdiscretion and respect. We see his faithin a sovereign God who has allowedtheir captivity and thus will not leavethem comfortless in it. The prophecyshows kings will rise and fall, buthonour must be given to the King ofKings.

    This most helpful commentary calls usto prepare for battles to come,reminding us of the present spiritual

    warfare in which we are called to makea similar stand. And we are comfortedthat the God of Daniel is the SovereignGod who holds the future, and whogives us the victory through our Lord

    Jesus Christ.

    Be prepared to be challengedconcerning your own stance by this

    book, but also to have your eyesopened to the spiritual war and,gloriously to the ultimate victory.

    The Good Book Guide

    Rodger Crooks,

    Christian Focus Publications

    174 pages 4.99Reviewer: Tory Hanna

    The Good Book Guide as its namesuggests is a guide book helping youexplore the different themesthroughout the Bible; for example, theCharacter of God, the Church,Baptism, and the Lords Supper. It is

    very easy to read and the chapters donot have to be read consecutively. Ifyou wish to examine a topic in furtherdetail helpful further reading issuggested by the author.

    I found this book enjoyable,challenging, and very helpful to my

    Christian growth. Recommended!God Chose to Save

    Joseph M. Bianchi,

    Evangelical Press

    96 pages 4.95

    Reviewer: Stephen Atkinson

    This is a brief biblically soundresponse to pervasive Arminianism,rightly warning us against commonphraseology. In seventeenth centuryEurope, the idea that a man made adecision for Christ, or walked theaisle... was unthinkable. Though goodin content, I wonder about the targetaudience. A convinced Arminian will

    probably not be converted by it,however a wavering Calvinist might be

    warned concerning the usage of certainterms and methods.

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    Engaging UnbeliefCurtis Chang

    Apollos

    187 pages 9.99Reviewer: Stephen Atkinson

    The premise of the book is that thechurch today faces an epochalchallenge, which should be faced up toby a correspondence with history.

    Arguing that similar seismic shifts faced

    Augustine (in 413AD), and Aquinas (in1259AD), he calls us to learn from theirresponse. He suggests their strategy issimply taking every thought captive toobey Christ (2Cor.10:5).

    Therefore facing modernity and postrelativism, our strategy should enter thechallengers story, open up its internal

    flaw, and retell the story from the over-arching perspective of the One Storythat explains all others - the Gospel. In

    Augustines day Christianity was blamedfor all of Romes problems. In Aquinasday, Islam threatened the church with asuperior world view. Chang comments,Augustine and Aquinas craft their

    metanarratives with... twin human flawsin mind. Augustines City of Godunveilsthe pride lurking underneath everyhuman empire; Aquinas Summa contraGentilesdeomonstrates the insufficiencyof all human reason.

    While I began most interested in hissuggested approach to an unbelieving

    world, I couldnt help wondering if thisreally is sufficient. He soon answered myquestion, acknowledging with

    Augustine, Simply engaging the

    challengers on their terms will not beenough. Must we not add, Except aman be born again he cannot see...?

    Some of us may not appreciate hiscriticism of Warfield and Hodgesstrategy, which he suggests was anattempt to defend a rather narrowcorner of Christian turf (p113). Insteadhe states, From the early church fathersto Augustine and beyond, the churchfocused on Scriptures authoritativenessand not total factual inerrancy. But didnot the Logos argue by way ofgegraptai-it stands written? Chang does howeversuggest a boldness of proclamation,instead of the contemporary call totolerance, and acceptance of diversity.But what is it that we are to proclaim,and how are we to proclaim it?

    In the chapter on Applying theStrategy (p158) he suggests in this post-modern epoch the lecture or sermondoes not carry the authority it used to,and suggests a narrative form ofpreaching to replace the currenttendency to present three main pointsabstracted from Scripture. He also

    suggests a greater move to new media,developing a theology of cinema, and aconsideration of iconography.

    I began interested, but ended upalarmed. The gospel metanarrative istoo rich and too alive to be boiled downto a timeless formula that can berepeated verbatim from one generation

    to the next. (p163)Is there not something dangerous aboutthis statement?

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    Why Bother with Church

    Simon Jones,

    IVP

    224 pages 5.99Reviewer: Joe Hutton

    This is a revised and expanded editionof a work first published in 1998 underthe title, Struggling to Belong by the sameauthor. Simon Jones admits that hisintention was to pose questions ratherthan to supply answers. He lists manycases of people who have been withinthe Church quoting statistics to supporthis argument that the Church is in adreadful condition. While I agree withsome of his remarks I found the bookgenerally disappointing because of theauthors view of the Church.

    He suggests in concluding remarks thatthe major role for the Church today isSocial Welfare. He accepts womenholding leadership positions in theChurch. He does not present preachingthe Word as central, but simply admitsits helpfulness. I was also disappointedat several flippant references condoning

    alcohol as a matter of normalexperience. He refers several times todiscussing problems over a pint at thebar. I found these remarks offensiveand unwise. The impression is giventhat alcohol can be useful in coming toterms with problems!

    His attempts at using modern imagery

    were at times wholly inappropriate,suggesting the Lord had becomeoffensive to the Pharisees because ofbecoming a party animal.

    While his intention was to posequestions, he does give suggestions.Making clay models of people we arepraying for will help us concentrate!

    Worship leaders, dance and drama areconsidered integral to real worship.

    Others may find the book helpful, but Icould not recommend it as such.Ransomed, Healed, Restored,Forgiven - Learning from the lifeof Peter.Michael Bentley

    Evangelical Press

    144 pages 6.95

    Reviewer: Gareth Burke

    Many readers will be familiar with thewriting of Michael Bentley who hascontributed several commentaries to the

    Welwyn series. This volume is a shortstudy in the life of Peter which is mostreadable and helpful. Each chapterconcludes with a section entitled'questions' which would make it an ideal

    volume for using in Bible Study groups.

    Any study in the life of Peter will be

    appealing to the Lord's people as somany of us can see ourselves in thisinconsistent, talkative disciple. Althoughbenefitting from this study in Peter's lifeI do feel that any new convert wishingto get to grips with Peter's life would bebest to turn first to From Simon to Peterby Glyn Owen.

    Nonetheless, Bentley has given us amost useful study in Peter's life withsome splendid insights into the 'postPentecost' Peter.

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    Remembering

    Former Days

    In this anniversary year we wish tobring to mind the former days byreprinting some articles from the very

    first issues of this magazine. The battlefor truth remains. This article was firstprinted in The Irish Evangelical inOctober 1928.

    Have you had any religious experience?To very many professing Christians thisquestion would be a puzzling one to

    answer. No one would think ofbringing a pair of boots to be mendedby a shoemaker who had had noexperience, and indeed no one wouldcall such a person a shoemaker. Is itnot just as foolish to call oneself aChristian and to make no claim tohaving any religious experience? To bea Christian there is one experience

    which is primarily necessary. I am asinner and I need a saviour and I havefound that Saviour in Christ. If webegin there, then we go on to discoverthat our sinfulness becomes far bulkierin our eyes, and our Saviour appearsincreasingly wonderful and effective.But this and every other experience of

    the believer springs from the facts andteachings of Holy Scripture which areenshrined there for all time.

    Modernists constantly refer to what hasbeen learned from experience aboveand beyond what is to be found in the

    Bible, and people are apt to be awed bytheir exalted claims. For example, Prof.Davey while denying that the doctrineof the Holy Spirit and the Trinity isfound in the New Testament, affirms atthe same time that it is deduced fromScripture and experience. In exactlythe same way the Koran is deducedfrom Scripture and experience, but theexperience is that of Mohammed; andScience and Health with Key to theScriptures is also Scripture andexperience, but the experience is that ofMrs Mary Baker Glover PattersonEddy. What right have Prof. Davey andthe Modernists to foist their experienceon us any more than Mohammed or

    Mrs Eddy? I believe in the Holy Spiritbecause I find the doctrine in theScriptures, and having found it here I

    Hearsay Religion and the Religion

    of ExperienceBy Rev. James Hunter M.A.

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    attribute to that Holy Spirit the feelingof sinfulness that is engendered in myheart and the assurance of Christ'spardon and the hope of heaven.

    The facts and doctrines of the faith givebirth to all true Christian experience,and are unalterable to all time. Thatthere is a heaven and that there is a hellremains true before people have beenin the way of having any experience ofthem. That there are angels and

    demons is a fact without our havingseen one or other, and when Prof.Davey tells us that Christ may be wrongin His teaching about them both, wemay well ask what experience has hegot that we should place his wordabove that of Christ.

    That Christ rose from the dead is a well

    attested fact of history and can neverbe affected by the feeling or want offeeling of any one. When Dean Ingeand Dr. Major and many of theModernists deny that it ever took place,and the Rev Wm. McNeill, ofRostrevor, in one of his publicationssays he has not made up his mind

    about it, we simply say with Paul that"Jesus Christ our Lord was declared to be theSon of God with power according to the Spiritof Holiness by the resurrection from the dead,"Rom. 1:4.

    Whoever takes away the resurrection ofChrist removes the proof of His divineSonship, and we naturally refuse to

    receive their professions about Christ'sdeity. Mr Whitehouse, the BelfastUnitarian minister, is quite justified in

    saying If all the modern Churchmenare not preaching Unitarianism then Ihave never heard it preached. When aPresbyterian minister in Ballymacarrett

    publicly expressed his dislike of thephrase "the blood of Christ," which isused by three of the apostolic writers inthe New Testament as well as by ourLord Himself in the institution of theSupper, there is no need for a Unitarianchurch beside his own. Take away theatonement and you cut the heart out of

    Christianity.

    Through all eternity it will beimpossible to imagine a love greaterthan that which bore the wrath of Goddue to me for my sin: it melts myfrozen feelings and makes me hot forthe atoning Lord. When the Modernistdenies this doctrine he leaves Godinfinitely less than He might be, andnot the Christian's God at all. Christianexperience is invariably built upon theunchanging foundations laid by theinspired writers. Professor Davey innaming his book The Changing Vestureof the Faith is affirming that saving trustis an unstable and varying thing, and in

    this he is in agreement with DrFosdick, who writes: The liberalism oftoday is the orthodoxy of tomorrow,

    which gives way to a new liberalist.

    The Greeks represented their greathero Hercules as coming by his deaththrough changing his vesture. He put

    on a cloak that was infected with thepoison which, on his arrow, broughtdeath to the monster Messus. Soon hisframe was writhing in agony, and he

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    committed suicide to end his pain. Inmoral agony that race will perish thatputs off the resurrection and atonementof Christ and the doctrine of the Spirit,

    and clothes itself in the experiences ofthe false prophets of Modernism.

    These men want rid of mystery. All themoving sights in nature robethemselves in mystery, sea and sky andmountain impressing us at once withthe sense of immensity and of beauty,

    our own nothingness and the glory ofthe Creator. To understand fully thedoctrines of a religion would provetheir falsity. The cherubim veil theirfaces with their wings before thepresence of their Lord. Theinvestigator who in his research woulddissect the dead body of his mother isone that we had better be without. Butthe best defence against error is theinward experience of the truth. AHearsay Christianity is easily displaced.How then do we come by the realexperience of divine truth? Considerand contrast the lives of four persons.

    George Grote was a brilliant man, a

    banker by profession, who madehimself a distinguished classical scholarand writer. The Christian who looksinto the life published by his wife isdisappointed and saddened to find notrace of reference to religion. Either hetook no personal interest in it, or his

    wife was of a type to pass it over as

    unimportant.In strange contrast to this is the life ofone of the leading German critics. Here

    you find religion to be the oneabsorbing interest, but on the otherhand, there is nothing to indicate that

    with his incessant study of religion he

    possessed a particle of spirituality.

    Take as the third case the Person of ourLord and Saviour and His biography inthe Gospels. Here you find the recordsteeped not only in religious interest,but in spirituality. The Son of Man

    which is in heaven might be taken to

    describe the atmosphere which Hecarried with Him continually, as well asto state the fact of His existence inheaven while He was on earth. But itstartles one to hear it said, and saidmost truly, that Jesus was not aChristian. A Christian is one who needsand has found his Saviour, but Jesusbeing without sin required no Saviour.

    Then take the case of Paul the apostle,whose writings are all about religionand whose spirit flames with spiritualfire. In him you have the deepconsciousness of sin and the ferventpassion for that Saviour and Lord

    whom he had found in Christ. Before

    his conversion he had been as religiousas after it, but then it was a hearsayaffair and now it was a real experiencein Christ Jesus. Towards the end of hislife he writes: I know Whom I havebelieved, affirming a personalacquaintance with Him on Whom heplaced his trust, a warm statement of

    his spiritual experience.An Eastern potentate has said that thedistance between trust and falsehood is

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    only a handbreadth, the distance, thatis to say, between the ear and the eye.But there is a great distance betweenhearing about Christ and seeing Him.

    "I believed not the words, until I cameand mine eyes had seen it; and beholdthe half was not told me," was theconclusion of the Queen of Sheba

    when she had communed withSolomon. "Behold, a greater thanSolomon is here" was Christ's witnessto Himself, as the sun in the sky bears

    witness to itself. The lover of Christcan put it more strongly than theQueen of Sheba. "The love of Jesus,

    what it is none but His loved onesknow." The photograph of a friend istreasured and we look on it withavidity, but we place it to the one side

    when the friend enters our presence.

    The Bible tells us all about Him that itis possible to know in this life, but it isin prayer that we relish His presence."The world seeth Me no more but yesee Me," are words in which our Lordinsists upon the believer's vision ofHimself as the privilege of faith. Thedoctrine of His presence is very

    delightful to reflect upon, but thepresence itself goes far beyond it. Hislove is an endless theme, but to feel itbeaming upon us is far more. We maybe moved with awe as we talk aboutthe holiness of God, but there issomething higher than communion

    with men. "I have heard of Thee by

    the hearing of the ear: but now mineeye seeth Thee," said Job, "wherefore Iabhor myself, and repent in dust andashes." Job speaks of seeing God, but

    there is no mention in the narrative ofany vision: What does he mean? Whatnew experience had he obtained? Hehad previously made remarkable

    confessions of his faith in God, andtestimony had been given to him as "aperfect man." What is he now and

    what more has he learned? His creedis just the same as it was before, but hehas had a further sense of his ownimperfection, and to that extent he ismore perfect than he had been: and

    this new discovery of his imperfectionhas been obtained through a furtherdiscovery of the majesty of God. Theadvance in his spiritual life is comparedby him to the difference betweenhearing and seeing.

    Surely such an advance is not onlypossible for us but eminently desirable.Faith in its first beginnings is the wordof God the Holy Spirit, though there isno appreciation of that fact at themoment, and when faith increases andzeal and activity in the spiritual life aremanifested, it is the same Holy Spirit

    Who is behind it all. That isencouragement to us, for if left to

    ourselves we could neither begin norcontinue. Lazarus lay cold and dead till

    Jesus shouted, "Come forth": andwhen the Holy Spirit says, "Thou shaltlove the Lord" (Deut 6:5), the heartbegins to warm and the currents oflove to circulate. Begin that life oflove this moment, saying "O Christ,

    my risen Lord, Who didst die for meupon the cross, I love Thee, and I willconfess Thee before men."

    In particular detail John Wesley

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    describes how at about 8.45pm onWednesday, May the 24th, 1738, in thesmall meeting house of the Moraviansin Aldersgate Street, "where one was

    reading Luther's preface to the Epistleto the Romans, describing the change

    which God works in the heart throughfaith in Christ, I felt in my heart strangelywarmed. I felt I did trust in Christ,Christ alone, for salvation; and anassurance was given me that He hadtaken away my sins, even mine, and

    saved me from the law of sin anddeath." Of the next morning he writes,"The moment I awakened, 'Jesus,

    Master,' was in my heart and in mymouth."

    To that change in the life of John

    Wesley is attributed the long andmarvellous career of missionary activitythat altered the tone and temperatureof religion throughout the Englishspeaking world.

    OBITUARYMr John Price Crumlin

    Thursday morning, 10 January, 2002, marked the homecall of Mr. John Pricefrom the Crumlin congregation. John had had a long and trying illness whichprevented his attendance at church for many years, but through the tape ministryhe was able to listen faithfully to the Word each week.

    John Price was born in Ballyutoag on 18 November 1922, and was the second

    oldest in a family of one girl and four boys. When the family moved to a farmoutside Crumlin they began to attend the newly formed EPC congregation,where the children were taught in the Sunday School. John professed faith as ayoung man during a mission that was held in the church, and after his marriageto Martha in 1953, they both became communicant members.

    John was also highly respected in the wider community around Crumlin wherehe engaged in farm contract work. He is survived by his wife, Martha, his twosons, Jim and Brian, and two brothers, Joseph and Bobby. To these, and to all

    the wider family connection, we extend our sincere sympathy and assure them ofour prayers in the loss of their dear one.

    A. A. Woolsey

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    News from the Evangelical PresbyterianChurch in England & Wales (EPCEW).

    Installation of Brian Norton as Minister of Durham Presbyterian Church

    Much of England was cloaked in cloud and rain, but the sun broke through inDurham as the time approached for the service to install Brian Norton as theminister of the EPCEW congregation there. People gathered from as far away asCardiff and Southampton to rejoice with Brian, his wife, Brenda, and the DurhamChurch. The Chapel was full.

    The Service was conducted by the Committee of Ministerial and Eldership Training(CMET), which functioned as a Commission of the Presbytery. Rev Dr Peter Naylor(Llandaff) led the service. Rev David Winch gave the charge to Mr Norton and thecongregation. Ruling Elder Peter Leverton (Cambridge) read the Scripture. TheClerk, Rev David Cross, put the ordination/installation questions and Ruling ElderIan Hepburn (Cardiff) led in prayer. The Rev Ian Hamilton (Cambridge) gave both ahistory of the call and preached the main address of the day.

    Brian Nortons path to the Ministry was not the normal route of seminary trainingfollowed by candidating for a church. Mr Norton had been a schoolteacher, but his

    interest and reading were heavily in the area of theology and the church. He tookearly retirement in order to work on the development of a Presbyterian Congregationin Durham. After some 12 years of doing the pastoral work of the church, thecongregation viewed him as their minister. The CMET of Presbytery met with thechurch and after hearing their desires, guided them into the process of a call. Thatcall was sustained by the Presbytery last November.

    David L Cross Clerk of Presbytery, EPCEW Tel: 01245 344903

    EPCEW CAMP - 17-23 August 2002 - for ages 15-32 (approx.)

    Location: Frontier Centre Lodge, set in the Northamptonshire countryside, withensuite accommodation, really good food and excellent facilities.

    During the week, there is daily worship and Bible Study, opportunity for discussionand fellowship, and also time for relaxation and fun together - campfire games,canoeing, archery, biking, etc, - all optional! Last year, the so-called "summer camp"brought together young people of several of the churches and there was even an

    international representation from Holland, Germany and Australia. It is hoped that asimilar thing will happen this year. The camp will be led by ministers of the churches.

    For further information, contact Hannah Naylor (029 2040 5748) or email her via herchurch's website's contact us page www.lpcr.org.uk.

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    making progress with pilgrim(- for pilgrims of all ages)

    - (3) IN THE HOUSE -

    (John Bunyan presented the world with a wonderful picture of Christian experience in The

    Pilgrims Progress. We continue to retell some of the main parts of the story.)So far our friend Pilgrim has left his home city, the City of Destruction,

    and following the Light made progress to the Gate. His entrance through

    the Gate set him on that narrow path that will lead him to where he

    wants to go, but first he must learn many things. He is not left without

    help in this, and so Bunyan brings our hero to the House of Interpreter.

    He is taken to many rooms, and discovers much that will help him on

    his journey, but one notable room he entered was very dusty. Interpreter

    called for someone to sweep it, but immediately the dust rose up and

    filled the whole room. So the maid was called to sprinkle some water,

    and when the dust settled the maid was able to sweep the room clean.

    Interpreter explains to Christian a very important point. The dusty room

    is like the heart of a man who has not been cleansed by the grace of Godin the gospel. Many people try to clean up their dusty room by good

    works, but it only raises more dust. Maybe you think that if you clean up

    your life all will be well? You need to learn this lesson from Interpreter.

    Just as this room needed the sprinkling of water before it was able to be

    swept clean, so you and I need the sprinkling of the gospel; really the

    sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ which cleanses us from all sin.

    Having been cleansed in this way we may then deal with the dustiness ofour heart, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

    To show him this Interpreter takes Christian to another room. A fire is

    raging, even though someone is throwing water on it. How is this? On

    the other side of the wall, at the back of the fire, someone was pouring

    oil onto the fire. Christian was taught that the Holy Spirit keeps the fire

    burning in our hearts even though our enemy would wish to quench it.

    Is your dusty room swept clean with the blood of Christ? How is your

    fire burning? Are you making progress with Pilgrim?

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