The Evangelical Presbyterian - May-June 2011

11

MayMay--Jun 2011Jun 2011

Meet Another of our MembersMeet Another of our Members

The Thunder of His Power The Thunder of His Power

16111611--2011: Commemorating the AV2011: Commemorating the AV

“I am the Light of the World”“I am the Light of the World”

MayMayMay---Jun 2011Jun 2011Jun 2011

£1.50£1.50£1.50 TheTheThe EvangelicalEvangelicalEvangelical

PresbyterianPresbyterianPresbyterian

The Evangelical PresbyterianThe Evangelical Presbyterian

22

Subscriptions 2010

Collected £ 9.00 By post within UK £11.00 By post outside UK £15.00

Enquiries to: Evangelical Book Shop (See back page for contact details)

Take NoteTake Note Warning SignsWarning Signs

Almost every day we come across signs

that warn us of impending danger: ―Mind

your head‖ or ―Watch your step‖ tell us of the

danger of a low doorway or a slippery surface.

Warning signs appear in all sorts of places

and to ignore them can lead to danger.

These warnings from ‗head to toe‘ are simi-

lar to heavenly warnings in the Bible where

clear instructions are given that we ignore

at our peril. The apostle Paul reminds us

that we are to ―make every thought captive.‖

Obedience to Christ and his Word moulds

our thinking and shapes our lives: ―for as he

thinks in his heart, so is he.‖ (Prov 23.7 The

importance of the mind is stressed in Scrip-

ture and Jesus teaches that it is not what

goes into man but that which comes out that

reflects his character, ―for out of the overflow

of his heart his mouth speaks.‖ (Luke 6.45)

While what we say is important, what we do

is equally important. Paul writes ―as you re-

ceived Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in

him.‖ (Col 2.6) We must be careful that our

conduct matches our profession.

Walking in Christ Jesus is nothing less than

submission to his Lordship. Guarding our

steps will mean not walking in the counsel of

the ungodly but delighting in the law of God.

The pathway of faith will lead us in the way of

the righteous and God‘s Word will guide us

every step of the way.

Cover Photograph Early morning mist in Milford Sound, a 15 km fjord in the SW of South Island, New Zealand. On both sides mountains rise steeply out of the sea. It is acclaimed as a natural wonder of the world. Photo: H Gibson

The Evangelical Presbyterian

is published bi-monthly by the Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Please visit: www.epcni.org.uk

Finance

Anyone wishing to help the Church‘s work may send their gift to the Finance Committee, C/o:

Rev J S Roger 16 Huntingdale BALLYCLARE BT39 9XB

The church can benefit from the Gift Aid scheme from taxpayers‘ donations. Please ask for details.

Policy

The views expressed are those of the Editor and Contributors which are understood to reflect the theological position of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Copy Deadline

1st of month prior to publication

Editor

Harold Gibson ‗Stockbridge‘ 2 Barronstown Court DROMORE BT25 1FB

[email protected]

33


The EditorEditor addresses the Church‘s marks and ministry

The Authentic Church The Authentic Church

Dale Ralph Davis has written ―What makes a church a church? When is a church really a church rather than a non-church? Must it have a certain number of people attending? Have so much filthy lucre in its treasury? Have a resident pastor or at least three stained glass windows? What are the marks of a true church?‖ The Westminster Confession of Faith (25:4) speaks of the church as a body where ―the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.‖

Marked by Faithfulness to God‘s WordMarked by Faithfulness to God‘s Word The church is to be marked by its faithfulness to the doctrine of the Gospel. We see this in the description given to the church in Acts 2.42, ―they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine.‖ The Reformers believed that one mark of the church was the true preaching of the Word and Paul writing to the Corinthians places the preaching of the Gospel at the very core of the church‘s life and ministry. Paul declared ―We preach Christ crucified‖ and goes on to state later in the epistle the fundamentals of the Christian faith, the things of first importance, ―that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.‖ We can see two important things that are central to an authentic church, the authority of Scripture and the declaration of the message of Scripture. The church must never lose the prophetic authority of ―Thus says the Lord.‖ Faithfulness to the Word is not just a matter of declaring the whole counsel of God but is to be evidenced in the lives of church members. Time and again Paul stresses that Christians are to walk worthy of their calling. Our lives are to be marked by faithfulness to the Word of God and shaped by obedience to that Word.

Known as a Mutual Fellowship of God‘s PeopleKnown as a Mutual Fellowship of God‘s People The early church is marked by meeting together in fellowship, devoted to the apostles‘ teaching, in the breaking of bread and in prayers. (Acts2.42.) It is a company of God‘s people united together by a living faith in Jesus Christ. Edmund P Clowney has written: ―Every true church of Christ is a manifestation of the new people of God, composed of citizens of heaven, not of devout people forming their elite club.‖ Corporate worship is an essential duty of every Christian. The writer to the Hebrews says we must not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. The Bible knows nothing of ‗go it alone‘ Christians or engagement with ‗cyber-net‘ worship. When the church gathers it is for one purpose alone, the worship of God. Prof John Murray has written: ―When any other function accords priority, then the God-centred interest is displaced by the man-centred‖.1 Preaching is central to worship, and the exposition of Scripture is central to the true preaching of the Word. Paul tells us: ―the preaching of the cross is the


44

power of God.‖ It is folly to the lost and perishing but unto the saved it is the power and wisdom of God. The administration of the sacraments and participation in them puts ―a visible difference between them that belong unto the Church and the rest of the world.‖ (WCF 27.1). The Shorter Catechism tells us that ―a sacrament is a holy ordinance appointed by Christ, by which, by visible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed and applied to believers.‖ The authentic church is marked by prayer, not just private prayer but the church gathering corporately to pray and seek the Lord‘s blessing and guidance. C H Spurgeon described the Prayer meeting as ―the throbbing machinery of the church.‖ Above all, the authentic church is to be marked by love, kindness and forgiveness. This is not an option but a distinctive feature of the New Testament church: ―Beloved, if God so loved us we also ought to love one another.‖ (1 John 4.11) John Piper reminds us that ―the presence of Christ in the born-again person is the presence of a servant‘s heart. A sacrificial spirit. A readiness to go down that others might go up. Love does not want us to prosper at the expense of others.‖ 2

Exercising a Ministry of Fruitfulness in God‘s KingdomExercising a Ministry of Fruitfulness in God‘s Kingdom The authentic church is identified by its ministry of evangelism and concern for the lost. The Lord adds to the church those who are being saved and they are reached by the church in obedience to the great commission: ―Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.‖ The authentic church is marked by a zeal for evangelism and mission. Throughout the New Testament we read of the Gospel advancing through the church: ―For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere.‖ (1 Thess 1.8) Here is the testimony of an authentic church, God‘s word has sounded forth and the witness of their members speak of ―how you turned to God from idols to serve the true and living God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thess 1.9-10) Fruitfulness is a theme which runs throughout Scripture, and the lack of fruit is taken as failure to be obedient to God. Isaiah speaks of his beloved‘s vineyard: ―he looked for it to yield grapes but it yielded wild grapes.‖ Jesus speaks of the true vine and the branches and warns of the judgement of non-fruit bearing branches. Every branch that does not bring forth fruit he will purge! In the words of A W Pink: ―if a church does not evangelise it will fossilize.‖ Faithfulness, fellowship and fruitfulness! Are these marks of authenticity evident in your church? 1 Collected Writings of John Murray, Vol 1, Banner of Truth, 1976, p 239 2 Finally Alive, John Piper, Christian Focus, p 160.

―Those who wish to build the church by rejecting the doctrine of the Word build a hog‘s sty, and not the church of God.‖ John Calvin

55


Rev Samuel WatsonRev Samuel WatsonRev Samuel Watson,, Finaghy, proceeds with the ‗I am‘ sayings of John‘s Gospel. On this occasion he urges us to take Christ‘s claim and promise to heart.

“I am the Light of the World”“I am the Light of the World”

The Reality of LifeThe Reality of Life Jesus made this great statement, ―I am the light of the world‖ in the public arena of the Temple Treasury (John 6.20), which was extremely busy with a constant flow of people coming and going, and therefore an excellent place to disseminate important truth. But the background against which Jesus made this claim made it doubly vivid and impressive. Most commentators believe that John 8.12 follows on chronologically from 7.52 so that John connected these discourses and arguments with the Feast of Tabernacles (7.2). This is indicated by ―again‖ he spoke to the people—ie still in the context of the Feast. Now at this Feast there was a ‗pouring of water‘ ceremony which tied in with Jesus's claim to give ―living water‖. But a ‗lighting of the lamps‘ ceremony also took place in this Court during the Feast. In this, four poles (about 20 metres high) were set up, at the top of which were four bowls filled with oil. When darkness came each night the wicks of these sixteen lamps were lit and, we are told, they sent such a blaze of light throughout Jerusalem that every courtyard in the city was lit up with their brilliance. And all night long people danced and sang before the Lord in remembrance of the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night by which God had guided his people through the wilderness. Now it was in this context that Jesus publicly declared, ―l am the light of the world.‖ And what he was saying was "The Temple illuminations have dispelled darkness for the past seven nights. Well, ―I am the Light of the World‖, and, whoever follows me will have light, not just for seven nights, but for their whole lifetime‖. Note ...

1 The Claim He Made1 The Claim He Made ―I am the light of the world.‖ There are three things to reflect upon here: (a) The Divinity of His Person. ―I Am‖, Jesus said. Jewish translators quite often used the emphatic pronoun when recording words that God had spoken. And this is what we find here—the "I" is emphatic. This is the way God speaks. It calls to mind that at the revelation of the burning bush God said to Moses I AM THAT I AM. Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. ―I am", says Jesus. "I AM", says God. The conclusion is inescapable: Jesus claims divinity for himself; he claims to be part of the Godhead, to be the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of God. The Pharisees and the people were incredulous. Here was a man, an ordinary man, a carpenter from Nazareth, the son of Mary—and He was claiming to be God! He was using God‘s own, personal name; claiming to be the promised light, the Anointed One, the Messiah, coequal to and coeternal with the great "I AM." We must never lose sight of the fact that in Jesus we see the glory and majesty of God (cf John1.14, 18). Jesus of Nazareth is God, the eternal God, the everlasting I AM. And there is none other like him, the unique God-man! This is


66

reinforced when we consider that the word ―light‖ was specially associated in Jewish thought and language with God (cf Ps27.1; Is 60.19; Mic 7.8). When Jesus made the claim that he was the Light of the World, he was making a claim which could not possibly be higher He was saying: I am God. (b) The Revelation of His Glory While on earth Jesus had the natural appearance of a man. However, his coming to earth was accompanied by light. (cf Matt 2.9; Lk2.9) Later, his glory was revealed in the transfiguration when he became dazzling white. (Mark 9). So when Jesus said, ―I am the Light of the World, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life‖, it was a statement about his glory. But it was also indicating what he came to do. Essentially his life was about bringing life to people. John 1.4 says. ―in him was life, and that life was the light of men.‖ He brought life, hope and restoration to a world of death, hopelessness and brokenness. In saying that he is ―the light of the world‖, Jesus was also saying that the world lies in darkness. Our world is one in which there is spiritual blindness and moral darkness. It lies in the darkness of sin, unbelief and ignorance. By and large, people today don‘t understand realities such as sin, righteousness, eternity, heaven, hell, repentance, or salvation. They are in darkness! But Jesus is ―the light of the world.‖ He has come to free people from ignorance concerning God, man, redemption and true life. And the light of life Jesus brings is rooted in his sacrificial act of offering himself on the cross to take away the guilt of sin. John declared: ―Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.‖ (John 1.29). So it is in Jesus—and him alone—that you meet God, know God, and obtain life from God. (c) The Universality of His Reach The problem of man left to himself is that he cannot overcome his natural darkness. But Jesus claims that he can bring the illumination that will banish that darkness—and this wherever they are in the whole world. Most 1st century Jews tended to confine the love of God to Israel. They forgot that the blessing of Abraham was to extend to all families of the earth (Gen 12.3; cf Isa 42.6, 49.6). So Jesus' teaching that he was the light, not simply of Jews, but of the whole world, was breathtaking. How wonderful that the Son of God came to bring light to all people—that God has a love for all mankind (not only for Israel) and that no one is beyond the love and the care of God. He is the light of the whole world. He alone is the light the world needs. Apart from him there is no saving light. The fact is that God‘s arms are open wide to receive anyone, from anywhere. No matter what a person‘s background or history may be; or what turmoil of mind and heart, Jesus can bring them light, forgiveness, hope, direction and life. Without exclusion or exception, there is light for everyone who will come to him—including you. The claim He made.

2 The Promise He Gave2 The Promise He Gave (a) A Conditional Promise Jesus talks of those who follow him. What does that mean? It is to give oneself body and soul into the obedience of the Master. It is to trust in him, to depend on him, to obey him, to do what he says. It means being totally committed to him at all times and in all circumstances, without reservation. To be a follower of Jesus, then,

77


you, by grace, must have a right personal relationship with him and be committed to a continuous following. Jesus is speaking of a whole-hearted discipleship, not of a casual relationship. Are you a follower? A close follower? A whole-hearted follower? (b) A Converting Promise The follower of Jesus is promised two things: (i) not to walk in darkness. Darkness is often used to convey negative things—obscurity, concealment, deception, error, and the like. Sometimes it is used of the darkness of death. Jesus is saying that anyone who follows him is delivered from all such things. When we walk alone in darkness we stumble and fall, and find that life's problems are beyond our solution. Walking in darkness we inevitably take the wrong way, because we have no light to guide us. A person who has a sure guide is one who is bound to come in safety to the journey's end. Jesus Christ is that guide. He alone possesses the map to life. To follow him is to walk in safety and certainty through life and afterwards to enter into glory. (ii) to have the light of life. Jesus is the very light of God come among men, and Jesus is the light which gives men life. Light means life. This means Jesus is the source of life and the well-spring of being. All life comes from Jesus and stems from Jesus. If you want to really live, you must turn to Christ, in which case your life will be suffused with the light of the presence of Jesus Christ. So if you follow him he will be with you every step of the way. Yes, it will involve difficulties and troubles, sadness and trials as well as joys and pleasures. But you will never have to face these situations alone. He will be there to lighten your path and help you see the way through. Furthermore, life is the opposite of death. So ultimately to follow Jesus means to be delivered from eternal death and to experience eternal life in the glory of heaven.

Ma

r-A

pr

20

11

So

lutio

n

Win

ne

r: Be

tty G

love

r, Gro

om

sp

ort

Z1

G2

E N3

E R A T4

I O5

N S6

E C7

E O H W E8

A T9

A10

T H E N I A N S11

R12

A N C E

L A E H E E H N

L13

E A H C14

A P E R N A15

U M16

D L F X O

J17

E H O V A18

H T19

S I D K E N U

A G B A V N

H20

O N E Y C O M B E21

D O22

M I T E

A S M E Z G G

S I23

S R A E L I

H L24

I N25

E N N R Z26

L

U27

S A A28

J A L O N29

A30

B B A

B P31

I T T C A C O

A U32

R I L33

A O D I C E A

O34

I L R O E A U

X M35

E E K N E S S B36

U R I A L

This issue is different

from our usual format

in some respects.

It features a special

four-page article to

commemorate the 400th year anniver-

sary of the Authorised

Version of the Bible,

1611 –2011.

So we have held over

some of our usual

features, particularly

‗All Lands to God‘ and

the Crossword to the

next issue.


88

Early Family TrialsEarly Family Trials Irene Thompson was born in Portadown on 7 July 1916. Her father was a master butcher who sadly died in November 1918, when he was just 29, during a flu pandemic. Irene‘s sister was born three months later but lived only two days—Mrs Thompson had had the flu twice during her pregnancy. This effectively made Irene an only child. To make matters even more difficult Irene‘s mother was ill for a year after the baby was born and was unable to look after Irene, but her family kindly took up the responsibility until Mrs Thompson‘s health had recovered.

To Armagh, to Faith and to BangorTo Armagh, to Faith and to Bangor Portadown and the family home had too many memories for Frances Thompson so she moved to Armagh when Irene was three. They lived in rented rooms at first for it was well nigh impossible to get a house in the post world war period, but Mrs Thompson, a woman who prayed about everything, took the matter of a house to the Lord in prayer. As a result, a woman approached her at her work as a book-keeper with a local clothing firm with the offer of a rented house on the Newry Road and it became their home until Irene was nine and a half. When Irene was nine she was on holiday with her mother in Newcastle Co Down. Faith Mission Pilgrims were conducting evening meetings on the promenade and at one of these Irene ―wanted Jesus‖ and came to faith in him. Meanwhile, Mrs Thompson‘s youngest brother, Russell, had returned from New Zealand and was living with them in Armagh. He liked the sea and persuaded his sister to move to Bangor, to a semi-detached house in Rugby Avenue. This was in February 1926. After two final years in primary school Irene attended Bangor Collegiate School (which amalgamated with Glenlola Collegiate in 1957) from 1928 until 1934 and achieved the ‗Senior Certificate‘ as it was known in those days.

A Career in MedicineA Career in Medicine Irene had grown up with the knowledge that flu had killed her father and that her mother did not enjoy good health so from childhood she wanted to study medicine. As no science subjects were on offer in Bangor Collegiate, she studied at Belfast Technical College for the next year before becoming a medical student at Queen‘s University. Her medical training was fraught with difficulties too. She became very ill through infected milk and missed two years. Then her mother suffered a heart attack and Irene took another year out to nurse her. When she qualified in 1947 the University Dean warmly congratulated her on her tenacity. A distinguished, pioneering, medical career followed. Irene‘s first appointment was for six months in 1948 as a house surgeon/physician at the Haypark Avenue site of the Ulster Hospital. Social and Preventative Medicine came next, in 1949, a new Public Health Department course, at Queen‘s. It led to a research appointment from 1949 –1953 in the Department, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, into dust

Dr Irene Thompson, Richhill

Meet one of our MembersMeet one of our Members

99


sensitivity in industry. A highlight of this research was a day in Oxford to see the new Morris Minor being manufactured and assembled. Much of her activity focused on the health of local linen workers. She stayed on to complete unfinished projects, particularly those on physically handicapped children and muscular dystrophy. She was awarded an MD for her work. Irene then turned her attention to Psychiatry for the next four to five years. It began as a locum for one month at Holywell Hospital to which she went ―reluctantly‖. However, she found her month so full of interest that she stayed eight! It resulted in a four year appointment as Registrar in Psychiatry with the Hospitals Authority, 1954-58. The central part of Irene‘s medical career was with Down County Health Committee. From 1958-1962 she was Assistant Medical Officer. She did a course on the assessment of sub-normality and travelled to special schools. She was promoted to Senior Medical Officer in 1962. From 1964-67 she was Field Controller for a survey that the World Health Organisation had invited Down CHC to carry out on the effect of housing conditions on health, in which 2000 families participated. Irene went to Geneva to discuss her findings. All a great honour for DCHC! Down CHC was the first in NI to introduce the detection of hearing loss in small children. Irene led the project and trained the staff, after training in Manchester herself. When the Medical Boards were set up in 1973 Irene was appointed Assistant Chief Administration Officer for the Eastern Board, covering the Belfast area. Regrettably, a massive left retina haemorrhage drew her career to a close in 1974.

Life in Family and ChurchLife in Family and Church Irene and her mother moved to Belfast while Irene was at Queen‘s. In later years she had opportunity to repay the kindness of her aunt who had cared for her in her childhood through an increased friendship with her grandson, Rodney, who came to live with her for a time in Belfast and is now her ‗next of kin‘. Irene came to a Saturday afternoon conference in our Botanic Avenue Church in May 1949 to hear Dr N B Stonehouse, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. She returned to hear him again the next morning and brought her mother in the evening. They stayed and came into membership in 1956. She has always enjoyed the friendship of the Church, and its exposition of the Word, as, she explains, ―it is so easy to read the Bible without thinking.‖ Irene returned closer to her roots in moving to Richhill in 1984. She has not been able to attend Church for about five years but she appreciates the regular Church visits to her home. Looking back she sees that God had a plan for her life. She had always wanted to be a GP but the Lord kept directing her in other ways. ―I always trusted God to see I did the right thing. When one door closed, another opened ... The Lord‘s mercies are ‗new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.‘‖ (Lam 3.23)


1010

11 The Searching Question (1)The Searching Question (1) ―Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?‖ In this Psalm David searches for an answer to a very difficult question that is still very relevant for us to-day. In our modern approach to life with its focus on activity and agendas have we forgotten how to approach our great God, the King of heaven and earth? There is a divinely prescribed manner for approaching God that we frequently forget. So often as we approach Sunday and it is time for us to go to church for worship we are unprepared with a life filled with unholy thoughts, conduct and words. Instead we should prepare ourselves with reverence, awe and humble submission knowing that the one before whom we come is completely holy. This means that he is worthy to be worshipped in a way that will bring him all glory honour and praise. All who desire to worship God must have a right understanding of his holiness. God is ―Holy, holy, holy‖ (Is 6.3)—he is transcendent, majestic, all glorious, sinlessly perfect and without any blemish or impurity (Ex 15.11)

2 2 The Spiritual Qualifications (2The Spiritual Qualifications (2--5b) 5b)

David provides the answer to who may worship God in verses 2-5 which contain six life qualities which demand our daily reflection: integrity, honesty, truthfulness, consideration, reliability and generosity. Paul outlines a similar list in Ephesians 4.25-32. In short those who approach God in worship must seek to be as holy as God is holy (Heb 12.14)

Our character must be holy, meaning that we must pursue blamelessness and practice righteousness.

Our conversation must be holy, meaning that we must speak the truth at all times and suppress slander.

Our contacts must be holy, meaning we bring no harm on those we associate with but rather seek to lift up others, saying what is truthful and affirming.

Our company must be holy, meaning we should despise a vile man but respect our fellow believers

Our commitments must be holy, meaning we should stand by our word and suffer for it if necessary.

Our commerce must be holy, meaning we should not take advantage of those who need to borrow money rather we should use our money to help them.

3 The Strong Assurance (5c)3 The Strong Assurance (5c) ―He who does these things will never be shaken.‖ The consequence of living our lives in the context of God‘s presence is that we will be like ―a tree planted by streams of water‖ (Ps 1.3). The roots of a righteous and blameless life cause a person to stand secure and not slip or slide when the storms of life rage. In the words of Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones ―Holiness is not something to be received in a meeting; it is a life to be lived in detail.‖

Colin MooreColin Moore, Stranmillis, brings us face to face with the requirements of holiness from Psalm 15—-the third of his meditations on the Psalms.

Rightly Approaching the KingRightly Approaching the King

1111


Spiritual Disciplines: Spiritual Disciplines: Silence & SolitudeSilence & Solitude

We have considered study, meditation and prayer as spiritual disciplines— practices which aid us in our desire to progress in godliness. However, our lives are often too rushed, too noisy, too busy. The solution may be found in the discipline of silence. Stillness in the PsalmsStillness in the Psalms A good place to begin is in the book of Psalms, where there are many exhortations calling us to be still before God. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. (Ps 37.7) I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and he heard my cry. (Ps 40.1) Be still, and know that I am God. (Ps 46.10) For God alone my soul waits in silence. (Ps 62.1) For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is in him. (Ps 62.5) But I have stilled and quietened my soul; like a weaned child with its mother. (Ps 131:2)

Christ and SolitudeChrist and Solitude We also have the example of Jesus as he makes space to be alone with his father. Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went

off to a solitary place where he prayed. (Mark 1.35)

Christ also calls his disciples to follow him. Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6.31)

First Steps to SolitudeFirst Steps to Solitude Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline suggests that we use the small silences of the day; before we rise as the house is still silent, the walk to the bus stop or station, waiting in a queue—opportunities to use the moment, to redeem the time. We can build on these foundations to learn to find silence in the business of the day. Using Silence and SolitudeUsing Silence and Solitude Be careful! Solitude is different from isolation; silence can allow the mind to worry and wander—as well as urging us to be still before God, Psalm 37 tells us not to fret. Even in our quiet times we can be too eager to focus on the academic side of study, too quick to rhyme off our list of requests, and think that we have spent time with God.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools who do not know they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty with your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. (Eccles 5.1-2)

You may ask what is the difference between waiting before the LORD and meditation? That is a difficult question. We have previously contrasted Christian meditation with other forms of meditation; emphasizing that Christian meditation is focused on the objective reality of God. An artist looking at a sunset or a flower may study it and reflect on why it is beautiful; how the light and tones, shape and form add to its beauty. But he may also sit back and lose himself in appreciating that beauty. So, we may look to God as revealed in his Word, we may study and reflect (meditate) on some attribute or truth about him and how it relates to our current situation, but we may also find ourselves losing ourselves as we gaze and wonder at the glory of God.

Michael TrimbleMichael Trimble, Stranmillis, highlights another vital spiritual value.


1212

PREACHER IN TROUBLE! Part 3 of the John Bunyan story

John Bunyan tried to change his bad behaviour, but, when he met some real Christians, he realised that he was not right with God.

John was now full of questions. “Am I saved or not?” he wondered. He

returned to Bedford to visit the ladies he had met and they told him

about their minister, Mr Gifford. John began going to Mr Gifford’s

church and was greatly helped by what he heard from the bible. He

came to trust in the Lord Jesus and was comforted to learn that

Jesus will never drive away anyone who comes to him.

John moved to Bedford with his wife and two girls (for Mary now had

a little sister.) This meant they could be near the church and Mr

Gifford. It was a sad blow for the congregation when Mr Gifford died.

A new minister came and, about this time, John himself began to

preach. He travelled on horseback all around Bedford, preaching in

the open air, in houses and in cottages.

Amazingly, crowds flocked to hear him. He always

spoke from the Bible and told people they must be

saved from sin. God used him wonderfully,

but not everyone was pleased. Some said

John was only a tinker and should

leave preaching to ministers. 0thers

spread lies about him.

Then, when John was about 30, some sad things happened. His wife

died, leaving him now with four young children. A year later, the new

minister died also and the authorities moved the congregation out of

their church building.

How could such a thing happen? Under King Charles II, the law said

that all church services had to be Church of England services.

The authorities disagreed with true bible-believing Christians

1313


PREACHER IN TROUBLE! Part 3 of the John Bunyan story

who wanted to have a different type of service. John and his

friends had to meet secretly, sometimes in fields or cowsheds.

In the middle of this sorrow, John married a

young woman called Elizabeth who became a new

mother to blind Mary, Elizabeth, John and baby

Thomas.

John continued as a tinker and preacher. He knew it was

against the law to have meetings except in church buildings.

He knew it was against the law to hold a service without

using the Church of England Prayer Book. So he was not

surprised by what happened one winter evening in 1660. He

had just arrived at a farm to hold a meeting. “Brother

Bunyan,” said the farmer, “we think you should not preach

tonight. We have heard that the constable is on his way to

arrest you.” John was not put off and, despite the danger,

started the meeting as usual.

The most important thing for John Bunyan was obeying God’s word

and preaching it where ever he could. Would the authorities be able

to stop him?

Quiz 1. Name the minister who helped John. 2. What brought comfort to

John? 3. What did John do on horseback? 4. Give one sad thing

which happened when John was 30. 5. Who was king at this time? 6.

Where did Christians meet secretly? 7. Name John’s new wife.

8. Which book did the law say was to be used in all services? 9. What

did the farmer say to John? 10. What did John do? 11. What was

most important for John?

http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf2tv_q1NMh8ASFxWBQx./SIG=12dvnil1d/EXP=1303277295/**http%3a/etc.usf.edu/clipart/4500/4502/man-reading_1_lg.gif

http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf23i9q1NsAEAXxxWBQx./SIG=12726mq25/EXP=1303275362/**http%3a/www.flickr.com/photos/sallyrooney/257644799/


1414

Church NewsChurch News Obituary: Mr William Reid, FinaghyObituary: Mr William Reid, Finaghy Born on 28 January 1917, died on 6 March 2011 he lived in two centuries and in two millennia. He came to personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ when he was 19 at a mission in Mullycar Baptist Church. (His funeral service was conducted in Gortmerron Baptist Church which now has oversight of Mully-car). In due course he became a member of our Clintyfallow congregation and was married there in September 1945 to Jessie Caldwell who had been evacuated to the Clintyfallow area in 1942 due to the ―Belfast Blitz‖. God blessed them with four children: Norman, Anne, Elsie and Willard, 9 grandchildren and in the course of time 17 great-grandchildren have been born. Willie Reid was a farmer all his working life in Clintyfal-low. He loved his calling and the family still speak about his special love for clearing the ground of unwanted trees and chopping them up for other useful functions. He was a member of the first Committee at Clintyfallow and was one of the first Deacons, ordained and installed in 1960. The Reid home for many years pro-vided fellowship and hospitality to visiting preachers to Clintfallow. Mr & Mrs Reid came to Belfast at the beginning of 1978, when Willie retired, and joined the Fina-ghy Church where he became a Deacon later the same year, continually being re-elected to the office throughout his life. In addition to the range of duties of that office, he attended to the Church premises and site, cutting hedges, constructing and maintaining fencing and carrying out other necessary repairs, always done quietly and without fanfare. He was also of tremendous practical help to the Evan-gelical Book Shop. For years he transported books and displays to and from the Balmoral Show, helped to erect the stand and then did it all in reverse. Through his faithfulness and diligence in family and church life William Reid gave invalu-able service for the Kingdom of Heaven. Mrs Reid died in January 1995 and he missed her terribly, but God gave him the grace needed to continue to live for and serve his Lord without bitterness. His 90th birthday celebrations were held in the Finaghy Church on 26 January 2007 with a large gathering of family and close friends. Later that year his health pre-cluded him from living alone and from then Elsie and Anne kindly shared his care until his final illness required his removal to hospital. We thank God for every remembrance of him and know that he is now ―with

Christ which is very far better‖. We commend his children, Norman, Anne, Elsie

and Willard and their families and his brother and sister and their families and the

wider family circle to the God of all grace and comfort. SW

Scottish Reformed Conference 2011

Saturday 14 May—Hamilton College

Registration starts at 9.15 am, and the conference ends at 3:30 pm.

Speakers: Dr Joel Beeke and Pastor Steve Curry

Full details at http://www.scottishreformedconference.org/

http://www.scottishreformedconference.org/

1515


Su

nd

ay

Su

nd

ay

Thank God for all our Ministers. Pray that they will be kept faithful to their calling.

Pray for Sunday school teachers to be prayerful and diligent in their preparation.

Pray that visitors would attend our Young People‘s Day services and hear the Gospel.

Give thanks that this year‘s Belfast Marathon was not moved to a Sunday. Pray for Day One Christian Ministries as they campaign to keep Sunday as a day of rest and worship.

Mo

nd

ay

Mo

nd

ay

Pray that we will all be disciplined in having a daily Quiet Time.

Pray for working families with young children, that parents would set godly priorities.

Pray for young people with exams. May they know the Lord‘s help and learn to trust him.

Pray for the final practical and spiritual preparations for summer Camps, remembering the joint camp leaders‘ prayer meeting on 20 June.

Tu

esd

ay

Tu

esd

ay

Pray for Gareth Burke, speaking to pastors at a conference in Bassaland, Nigeria in May.

Pray for safety and spiritual maturity for the Christian church in Plateau State where Muslim/Christian tensions run high.

Pray that the Gaiya and Fitzsimmons families will enjoy visitors from ‗home‘ this May/June, remembering Angie and Noah as they travel back to Belfast with Chris Doherty.

Remember the Ballyclare congregation as they give out tracts on May Fair Day, 24 May.

We

dn

esd

ay

We

dn

esd

ay

Pray that we will never be ashamed of Jesus, but will take every opportunity to stand for him.

Pray for Andrew and Eunice Moody as they face difficult changes in Joy‘s schooling. Pray for them as they prepare for the team from EPC coming out.

Pray for final fund raising and arrangements for the Uganda trip. Pray that it would be used mightily in the purposes of God, both in the church in Goli and in the lives of our young people.

Th

urs

da

yT

hu

rsd

ay

Pray for Council and Assembly elections, that Christians would vote wisely and that our elected representatives would show a measure of respect for God‘s Word. Pray for Chris-tians in politics to be salt and light. See Christian Institute Article, page 22.

Pray for young people who are feeling the pull of the world, that they would be kept.

Pray for young men in our congregations to be raised up as Deacons, Elders and Ministers.

Pray that the impact of Dumisani Bible College (SA) will be widespread and enduring for God.

Frid

ay

Frid

ay

Pray for safety, useful conversations and true fellowship on all Sunday school, youth and congregational outings.

Pray for any who struggle with singleness, loneliness, mental illness or chronic pain.

Thank God for contacts with unbelievers through the year. Pray that he would grant salvation.

Pray for students, local and international, who have been helped spiritually through the Stranmillis Student work. Pray for continued spiritual growth as the academic year ends.

Sa

turd

ay

Sa

turd

ay

Pray that the Presbytery Family Day 7 May would be a truly blessed day.

Pray for Robert Beckett and the Helping Hand work among alcoholics in north Belfast.

Pray for every effort to bring the Gospel to difficult lands, through radio, internet and mobile phone technology. Remember the work Ed Underwood does in this area.

Prayer Diary: MayPrayer Diary: May--Jun 2011Jun 2011 Compiled by Compiled by David and Heather WatsonDavid and Heather Watson, Ballyclare, Ballyclare


1616

Sam Francey Sam Francey outlinesoutlines the work and highlights the main matters for prayer.

Congregations: Groomsport Congregations: Groomsport

Over the last 10 years Groomsport has seen its population rise from under 1,000 to some 3,000. Its name derives from an old Irish word meaning ‗port of the gloomy servant‘—but we hope that we witness the joy of our salvation.

Sunday School and Bible ClassSunday School and Bible Class numbers vary from 10 to 13. Half of those attend-ing regularly are in their mid to late teens and this means that in a couple of years or so the number may halve. Those remaining will still be mostly of primary school age. We are thankful to God that all of these older young people have pro-fessed faith, but their moving on will leave a gap to be filled. It is our prayer that we will see some young families coming into the congregation and bringing their children to the Sunday School and Bible Class.

Young Peoples AssociationYoung Peoples Association meets on Friday evenings. The Juniors have a time for games and chat with a closing epilogue. Most of these children have no church background and so this is a vital outreach work. While we are very thank-ful to God for their regular attendance we would love to see them at our Sunday School and services. The Seniors are mostly the Bible Class teens we have re-ferred to so we pray for a new group of Senior YPA recruits.

Ladies FellowshipLadies Fellowship meets third Thursday of each month. They have a varied pro-gramme with representatives of missions and other Christian work as speakers.

Little JewelsLittle Jewels About 12 parents and 20 toddlers meet from 10.00-11.30 each Wednesday and we regularly see new faces. Each meeting finishes with a simple Bible story. They enjoy the facilities and friendships are gradually being built up. The leaders have been encouraged by the attendance of some parents at a cou-ple of social events in the past year. As with other areas of the church‘s ministry, we desire to see them at Sunday School and services.

Sunday ServicesSunday Services Rev Jeff Ballantine is currently preaching through Daniel at morning worship and Matthew in the evening. We pray that the Spirit of God will give the people of Groomsport a hunger for the Word of Life.

Special Meetings 20Special Meetings 20--22 May22 May Our guest speaker at this year‘s event is Rev Jer-emy Brooks. Local people will receive an invitation and evangelistic booklet based on Psalm 19 by our Minister. We look to God to bring in the unconverted.

Our Prayer PointsOur Prayer Points

That young people in the congregation will commit to membership.

That we will know God‘s leading as we consider a different time and format for the Sunday School for a few weeks in September.

That we will see a better response from the locality to our invitations and that there will be a feed into Sunday School and services from the other organisations.

That the Senior YPA will develop with the arrival of new recruits.

1717


The Making of the Authorised VersionThe Making of the Authorised Version

I want to focus on three influences which shaped the so-called ―Authorised Version‖; King James himself, the translators and the printers. Such attention to the human aspect of the making of a Bible translation in no way conflicts with belief in the Bible as the infallible and inerrant Word of God (Is 40.8). The Bible certainly had a Divine Author but this does not exclude the importance of human authorship (2 Pet 3.15). God used the Bible‘s human authors but preserved the process from error. (2 Pet 3.16) Similarly, the Holy Spirit was active and sovereign throughout the centuries long process of preserving the Bible and translating it into our language. Some parts of the history of the 1611 translation are murky. Some of the motivations of those involved were far from pure but all this makes God‘s glory shine through all the brighter. As the Preface to the Reader in the original 1611 version put it, ―But let us rather bless God from the ground of our heart for working this religious care in him [ie, the translator(s)] to have the translation of the Bible maturely considered‖.

The Role of King JamesThe Role of King James1

Humanly speaking, James was the main driver behind the translation project. In many ways, given his life and background, this was a surprise. James succeeded the very popular Queen Elizabeth. She is still regarded as one of the greatest of English monarchs. In contrast, James was derided as pompous and weak and contemporaries lampooned his weak physical presence. James certainly had his disadvantages. His father (Lord Darnley) was murdered only a year after his birth; probably at the behest of his mother Mary (Queen of Scots). Darnley, previously, had killed Mary‘s court favourite. When James was about twenty years old, the English Queen Elizabeth had the troublesome Mary executed so that she could no longer act as a focus for pro-Spanish and pro-Catholic plots against the Eng-lish state. So, James was far from blessed in his murderous, unstable and (probably) adulterous parents. He became Scottish king when only 13 months old. Scotland was then one of the most lawless and poor of European countries. It was crucial that James had left behind his mother‘s Catholic faith. If he had not he would not have held either the Scottish or, later, the English thrones. Notwithstanding this, historians are divided as to precisely what James‘ own religious beliefs were. One modern historian says James was a firm Calvinist.2 Most commentators, however, reckon that he leant towards a fairly high church Anglicanism. Certainly, his words and deeds suggest a hatred of Presbyterian church government. Rev Andrew Melville once said to James, ―Sir, you are God‘s silly vassal‖, but James‘ ultimate retort was ―No bishop, no king‖. In other words, if he conceded bishops his own position as king would be peril. Contemporaries were somewhat aware of and appalled by aspects of James‘ behaviour. Although it appears James loved his wife Anne of Denmark, and they had three surviving children,3 he also had three male favourites. So, James was no exemplar either of Christian behaviour or Reformed theology and yet, humanly speaking, he was the force behind the Authorised Version.

Esmond BirnieEsmond Birnie, Stranmillis: the substance of a Bible Class address.


1818

As James was travelling south to London to 1603 to inherit the English crown the Puritan party in the Church of England presented him with the Millenary Petition 4 appealing for a more complete reformation of Anglicanism. That Petition was fol-lowed by the Hampton Court Conference in 1604. At that Conference there were only four Puritan delegates. They were heavily outnumbered by the Bishops who, along with James, slapped them down in no uncertain terms. Bishop Richard Bancroft even described some aspects of Puritan belief as being those of ―infidels‖. From a Puritan point of view Hampton Court was a failure except that, and here was massive unintended consequence as well as the sovereignty of God, one of the Puritans threw into the discussion the possibility of a new translation of the Bible. James enthusiastically agreed and said that he had ―… never seen a Bible well translated into English‖. Thus began the seven year work on the King James Bible. So, James is in many ways a tragic figure. During his reigns he had many fail-ures. His schemes to promote greater unity between the Protestant and Catholic churches proved abortive as did his design to achieve a broader peace in Europe. The administrative union between England and Scotland which he anticipated did not actually happen until 1707 and his Plantation of the four western counties of the future Northern Ireland was only half implemented. His attack on tobacco was several centuries too early. However, his name is associated with two things we still have today; the ―Union Jacque‖ (or, popularly, Union Jack) flag and, more importantly, the 1611 Bible translation.

The Translators: Weeds and TaresThe Translators: Weeds and Tares——a mixed but Brilliant Buncha mixed but Brilliant Bunch5

At this distance much remains unclear about how the translators actually did their work during 1604-11. However, we do know there were 6 ‗companies‘ of translators with, possibly, nine men in each. Each company was assigned a different stretch of Biblical books6 and then, as they progressed, they exchanged their work to take differing views. We do have biographical details for some of the 50 or so transla-tors. For sure, many of the translators were not Puritans. Indeed, some were pos-sibly not Christians at all. Here are some of the one we do know something about:

Dr Miles Smith: the son of a butcher, Smith played the crucial role of providing a final editorial review of the entire Bible. Intellectually brilliant but sometimes not very patient. On one occasion he walked out of a church service he was unhappy with and took refuge in a nearby tavern!

Lancelot Andrews: reputed to pray for 5 hours at a time; perhaps he needed a lot of forgiveness? Andrews turned down Bishoprics twice. This was not because he was very humble but because he was holding out for a better salary. When plague struck London in the 1600s Lancelot abandoned his parish for a while.

George Abbot: a devout man. He once said, ―Scripture does directly or by conse-quence contain in it sufficient matter to decide all controversies‖. He had previously shot dead his gamekeeper during a hunting accident (his theological opponents did not let him forget this mistake).

Laurence Chadderton: once preached for two hours and the congregations ap-pealed that he should not stop so he went on for another hour.

John Bois: so bookish that he could read whilst riding his horse.

Henry Saville: seems to have been deeply corrupt and yet also a gifted translator (e.g. of Chrysostom).

Samuel Ward- one of the Puritan diarists.

1919


If those were some of the translators, how did they actually do their job (subject always to remembering that Divine sovereignty was working through them)? We know a little because of Bois‘ diaries. Bois describes the end of the process whereby draft translations were read in front of a small committee and then trans-lators would speak up and argue differing points of view. In fact several copies of the Bibles have survived on which the translators wrote their proposed amend-ments. A sort of pre-word processor/pre-Microsoft equivalent of ―tracked changes‖. The translators were instructed by Fifteen Rules for Translation. These had been written by Archbishop Bancroft7 but it is likely James influenced these Rules. Crucially, Rules 1 and 14 said that they should work form the Bishops‘ Bible as the ―default‖ position but also take the best of other previous English-language Bibles (such as Tyndale, Coverdale, Matthew and Geneva) and very importantly strive for the ―Truth of the original‖ (ie, what was said in the Greek or Hebrew).8

Did they succeed? Yes, largely, although a few verses point to the complica-tions of the translation process. For example, Acts 1.20: ―... and his bishopric let another take‖ (emphasis added). It seems the Archbishop over-ruled the objec-tions of other translators and chose the word to favour his own (and his royal master‘s) views on church government. In I Corinthians 13 possibly ―love‖ would have been more understandable than ―charity‖. In general, however, the translators achieved their stated aim which was not to make a bad translation good but a good translation better (in fact somewhere between 76% and 94% of the Authorised‘s New Testament reflects Tyndale).

PrintersPrinters One modern writer points to the contrast between stunning scholarship and drunken misprints.9 In truth, the translators were not well served in their first publisher. The King‘s Printer, Robert Blake was, at best, somewhat disorganised. He had in-vested a lot of money in producing the Authorised Version but he probably made a loss on this business venture. There was much variability in the type setting in 1611 and for decades to come. Some of the Bibles printed in 1611 were called ―He Bibles‖ and some ―She‖ ones. This was because of a contrasting rendering of the final part of Ruth 3.15 (―he‖ or ―she‖). Almost amusingly, in the 1630s one ver-sion of Ps 119.161 had ―Printers have persecuted me without a cause‖; one sus-pects sabotage by a disgruntled print shop worker! By the 1760s a standardised version of the Authorised Version had finally been arrived at. Part of that standardisation was not just weeding out printers‘ errors but also fixing on an agreed system of English spelling. Closer to our own time we have the New King James Version which has made some relatively small mod-ernisations of the text. Very importantly, by a comparison of texts we can be cer-tain that at least 99.99%of the text in front of us today represents a ―recovery‖ of the original Greek/Hebrew.10 James, Bancroft and most of the Anglican translators had hoped the 1611 Bible would knock out the Genevan translation. The latter, given its republican-leaning footnotes,11 was felt to be politically dangerous. This did happen but it took


2020

Presbytery Family Day 2011Presbytery Family Day 2011Presbytery Family Day 2011

Saturday 7 May, Stranmillis College, Belfast

Speaker: Rev Geoff Thomas, Aberystwyth

Booking forms with full programme details are available in congregations

This World is TransientThis World is Transient The Bible reminds us that this world is passing away. Building our hopes upon the promises of this world are futile. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that here we have no continuing city! Jesus‘ kingdom is not of this world, our citizenship is in heaven. While we remain in this world we are to be his witnesses.

We Must Live for Christ TodayWe Must Live for Christ Today The Apostle Paul urges us to make the most of every opportunity by redeeming the time. The Bible tells us that we are to live in the light of Jesus‗ coming again. One of Jonathan Edwards resolutions was to live every day as though it was his last. Events such as are happening in the world today should spur us on to new obedience and faithfulness. 1 Let’s Study Mark, Sinclair B Ferguson, Banner of Truth, p 218.

decades. One Scottish parish was reported to be holding out for the Geneva Bible as late as 1674. For the next couple of centuries the Authorised Version would remain the one essential book in many households not just in Britain and Ireland but also in the US as well. It was said that in the house wheret Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809 there were just two books and one of these was the King James Bible. For all the mixed motives involved, the translators of 1611 had been right to declare that the true and proper end of their work was ―… that we may love it [ie, God‘s Word] to the end‖. The best way we could remember the work of 1611 is by renewing our own love for God‘s Word. 1 Strictly, James VI of Scotland (1567-1625) and James I of England (1603-25). 2 Because, apparently, he believed in predestination; B. Coward 1994 or 2003, The Stuart Age

England 1603-1714, Longmans, London. 3 All of whom had unfortunate lives. The first son died young, the second (Charles I) was be-

headed in 1649 and the daughter Elizabeth married the would be king of Bohemia but spent most of her life as a refugee wandering across a Europe torn apart by the Thirty Years War.

4 Despite the name, it was not signed by one thousand petitioners but simply a large number. 5 www.lib.cam.ac.uk/exhibitions/KJV/1611.html 6 The Apocrypha was included. 7 He had become Archbishop of Canterbury in 1604 and lived until 1610. 8 Ironically, in the light of later versions of the King James Bible, another Rule excluded any

explanatory notes. 9 G. Campbell 2010, The Story of the King James Version, Oxford University Press, Oxford. 10 This point is made, for example, by John MacArthur in the Preface to his Study Bible and,

similarly, W. Grudem 1994, Systematic Theology, IVP, Leicester. 11 For example, regarding the Hebrew midwives disobeying Pharaoh (Exodus 1.17) and a

criticism of King Asa in 2 Chronicles 15.16-17.

Farewell Service for Catherine Grier (AIM)Farewell Service for Catherine Grier (AIM)Farewell Service for Catherine Grier (AIM)

Wednesday 1 June 2011, at Stranmillis EPC (Kindly granted)

Catherine is currently in Marseille improving her French. She leaves UK on 3 July for orientation in Kenya, followed by a flight on 10 August to Chad where she will be working in a rural hospital.

All Welcome

2121


Above the entrance to Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand, part of Job 26.14 is engraved on the stone facade, ―Lo, these are parts of his ways; but how little a portion is heard of him?‖ The remainder of the verse, ―but the thunder of his power who can understand?‖ is not included.

Exactly one month before the earthquake struck Christchurch we stood on the steps of the Cathedral waiting to meet up with friends who live in that city. To learn of the destruction and to see on our TV screens pictures of chaos and panic brought home the lesson in a very real way of the uncer-tainty of life in this world and how in a mo-ment a thriving bustling city can be brought to its knees and over 200 losing their lives.

Since the devastation in Christchurch news of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan has featured in the news and the massive loss of life and destruction in that country has caused much alarm throughout the world. The danger of nuclear fallout from the power stations send further fears to an already frightened people. The death and destruction remind us that we live in a very insecure world. Who would have thought that such a technically innovative country like Japan, with its wealth and materalistic lifestyle would witness some of its people begging for food? The effects upon world industry is starting to bite as spare parts for cars and electronics become scarce due to the closure of factories and in some cases much scaled down production because of power shortages. Earthquakes, the Bible tells us, are signs of the second coming of Christ. Mark 13 speaks of earthquakes and famines as ―the beginning of the birth pains‖. There is no doubt that the nations of the world are being shaken but who can understand the thunder of his power? News reports speak of the forces of ‗mother nature‘ as these events take place and others try to explain in scientific ways what causes such catastrophes. The thought of God, let alone his power, never seems to be taken into account. Events such as we have witnessed ought to teach Christians some lessons:

God is SovereignGod is Sovereign The very text taken from Job reminds us that God moves in particular ways, he shakes the nations and the very pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke. His ways are not our ways and he is working out his purposes, as William Cowper put it: ―God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform‖. We are not to be taken by surprise ―by the catastrophes of history. These are the birth pangs which herald the dawning of a new age.‖1

(continued on opposite page)

The Thunder of His PowerThe Thunder of His Power The Editor The Editor reflects on world events after a recent visit to New Zealandreflects on world events after a recent visit to New Zealand


2222

Christian citizens should think carefully about how to vote on May 5. Many Christians are concerned about legislative proposals which intrude into family life, evangelism and the running of the local church. The Bible instructs us to pray that our authorities would provide freedom for sharing the Gospel and freedom for Christians to live peaceful, quiet, and godly lives (1 Tim 2.1-4). We are to pray that the governing authorities will fulfil their God-given mandate and govern according to God‘s moral law (Rom 13.1-7 and 1 Pet 2.13-14) The Bible gives a clear basis for knowing right from wrong. The Lord Jesus criticised the Pharisees who had ―omitted the weightier matters of the law‖ (Matt 23.23), namely justice, mercy and faithfulness. While we are obligated to obey God in everything, certain parts of the moral law are absolutely fundamental. That is why God has given us the Ten Commandments. When it comes to votes in the Assembly, there are cases where MLAs vote for or against what is taught in the Command-ments. Eg, a vote for abortion is a vote to break the 6th Commandment (Ex 20:13). These are not matters of political opinion, but straightforward issues of right or wrong. Debates about water charges, free medical prescriptions, or renewable energy may involve a moral component. But from a biblical perspective these can never be as important as a debate on whether euthanasia should be legalised. During the election campaign candidates may call at your door. This presents an opportunity to raise Christian concerns. Think through a few issues and have questions ready in case canvassers call or stop you in the street. To help find out the views of the people standing for election in your constituency The Christian Institute has prepared a list of Ten Questions for Candidates:

1 Are you in favour of liberalising the law on Sunday trading?

2 Do you believe the law on divorce is too lax, too restrictive, or about right?

3 Do you believe parents should be banned from smacking their children?

4 Do you think homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt children?

5 Do you back a change in the law to protect the charitable status of churches and faith-based organisations?

6 Are you in favour of changing the definition of marriage so homosexual couples can get married?

7 Do you believe the law on abortion in Northern Ireland is too lax, too restrictive, or about right?

8 Do you believe assisted suicide or euthanasia should be legalised?

9 Do you believe the laws on gambling should be liberalised?

10 Should it be a crime to say homosexual practice is sinful?

The very act of asking questions is a Christian witness. A fuller briefing is avail-able on www.christian.org.uk/nielection, or by telephoning (028) 9094 1667.

The Assembly ElectionThe Assembly Election Callum Webster, Christian Institute, urges us to think carefully as to how we vote.

http://www.christian.org.uk/nielection

2323

MayMay--Jun 2011Jun 2011 Price discounts

available from Evangelical Book Shop

Belfast

On Giants‘ Shoulders. On Giants‘ Shoulders. Introducing great theologians: from Luther to Barth Michael Reeves, IVP, 2011, Paperback, 171 pages. £8.99 £7.45 This book is the companion to Reeves‘s Breeze of the Centuries . Whereas Breeze followed key theological thinkers from the Church Fathers to the middle ages, this volume focuses on the period from the Reformation to the modern era: Luther, Calvin, Owens, Edwards, Schleiermacher and Barth. There is a brief biography, a description of the historical setting, then a review of their thought and significant works. Reeves is considering ―great theologians‖—those he regards as having had a major influence on contemporary thought—as opposed to ―great Christians‖. His aim is to let ―the reader get to know the theologians on their own terms‖. Does Reeves succeed? Not completely. I found the book an interesting read. However, I think that it assumes too much prior theological and historical knowledge to be an effective introduction to the subject. Also, Reeves‘s attempt to present the theologians on their own terms makes it easy for readers to assume that some of the more extreme views are within the scope of orthodox evangelical thought, rather than errors that need to be countered. A little more critique, comment and direction would be helpful. In conclusion, it is an interesting adjunct to the study of historical theology, but not what one might have hoped for on reading the dust jacket. Michael Trimble

Encounters with Jesus: Encounters with Jesus: When Ordinary People Met the Saviour Richard D Phillips, P&R, Paperback, 207 pages £9:99 £7.50 Phillips explores 13 passages of scripture where Jesus encountered a variety of people from different backgrounds and circumstances. The Bible passages are very familiar but the insight into the cultural background, as well as the spiritual meaning was most helpful. Each situation may appear to be a random encounter, but God has a sovereign purpose behind each one. Even the progressive order in which a few of the passages are presented in Scripture is explained. This book is very worthwhile on its own merit, but its structure and the study questions make it suitable for small group Bible study. Indeed, studying these passages with YPA helped to clarify some misunderstandings. Ian Wright

True SpiritualityTrue Spirituality Vaughan Roberts, IVP, Paperback, 224 pages £8:99 £5.99 Based on 1 Corinthians this is a very helpful exposition for the church today. I found it hard to put down! In eight chapters the author addresses leadership, holiness, marriage and singleness, freedom, gender differences, love and our ‗physical future‘. The opening chapter on the need to focus on Christ‘s cross and not on human wisdom is worth the price of the book alone. ―In our desire to be spiritual, we too are in danger of substituting the vibrant heart of our faith with a pale echo of the world. In correcting the Corinthians, Paul challenges us too and calls us back to true spirituality.‖A summer holiday book! The Editor

Book ReviewsBook Reviews

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/1844744957/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=266239&s=books

http://www.christianbook.com/encounters-with-jesus-ordinary-people-savior/richard-phillips/9780875521930/pd/1932X

15 College Square East BELFAST BT1 6DD [email protected] 028 9032 0529

Evangelical Book ShopEvangelical Book Shop

Manager: John GrierManager: John Grier

Ongoing Offer!Ongoing Offer!Ongoing Offer! 10% off all new books not otherwise reduced10% off all new books not otherwise reduced10% off all new books not otherwise reduced

Translating the Bible Gerald Bray £8.99 From William Tyndale to King James An English theologian gives the historical background.

The Legacy of the King James Bible Leland Ryken £9.99 An American professor of literature ably recounts our debt to the AV.

The Holy Bible 1611 Version £21.99 (either including or excluding the Apocrypha) The original Authorised Version King James Bible is different from the text which has been used from 1769 until now.

The Authorised Version C P Hallihan 60p A Wonderful and Unfinished History A well constructed illustrated account of its history to 1770—marvellous value—includes advocacy of its continued use.

True Spirituality Vaughan Roberts £8.99 £5.99 Highly recommended by the editor – see Book Reviews on previous page.

Bread of Heaven Eifion Evans The Life and Work of Wiliam Wiliams, Pantycely £19.99 £16.99 Inspiring biography from an established writer on Welsh revivals.

Living by God's Promises Joel Beeke/James La Belle £11.99 £8.99 Based on leading Puritan works, made accessible for today‘s readers, to help us treasure the promises of God.

Out Of The Shadows Faith Cook £6.99 £5.25 Nine short inspiring biographies, some of them of well-known people such as Patricia St John, others you may never have heard of. "I am tempted to say that no one can dig up saints like Faith Cook!" (Dale Ralph Davis)

@ the John Benton £6.99 £5.25 Big Deals Outside the City ―Give praise to God for the biblical fidelity and profound simplicity with which Benton unfolds for us Christ's grace-filled and substitutionary atoning sacrifice.‖ (Bruce Ware)

Printed by Edenderry Print Ltd Unit 6 Agnes Street Industrial Estate BELFAST BT13 1GB

The Evangelical Presbyterian - May-June 2011

Documents

Transcript of The Evangelical Presbyterian - May-June 2011