STRENGTHENING REFORMED YOUNG PEOPLE TO REACH THE NATIONS FOR GOD’S GLORY
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Editorial
STRENGTHENING REFORMED YOUNG PEOPLE TO REACH THE NATIONS FOR GOD’S GLORY
MAY + JUNE 2015 Editorial Team Editor | JAMES MCCULLOUGH Secretary | ABIGAIL NELSON Design | ANDREW MORRISON Treasurer | ALISTAIR ROLLESTON Distribution | EMMA DUNWOODY Features | HELEN MCKELVEY Features | STEPHEN STEELE messenger.rpc.org To advertise in The Messenger, please contact advertise@messenger.rpc.org SUBSCRIPTIONS Digital editions (PDF and e-reader) are available for free online at our website Paper subscriptions cost £8 per year for 6 issues, and can be paid for online or through your congregation’s Messenger agent For any general queries, please contact subscriptions@messenger.rpc.org
It is easy to criticise the ordination of women, liberal theology or the excesses of Pentecostalism. Whilst it is important to develop to understand these issues, they are not common errors among reformed Christians. It’s more comfortable to call-out the flaws of others than look inside our own churches and deal with theological pride, theonomy, or biblical patriarchy. The latter is a movement within evangelicalism which takes the husband’s headship to unbiblical lengths. It stretches his role from a sacrificial leader to a near-infallible prophet, priest and king. The biblical principle of male leadership in the church is, without scriptural warrant, extended across the public sphere. This movement includes some respected reformed preachers and a wide spectrum of opinions. The world wrongly demeans the roles of mother and helper but in reasserting that men and women are different we can overreact. Reformed Christians are more vulnerable to this error as we rightly pursue counter-cultural lives and take scripture seriously. I’m delighted that Prof. David McKay has taken the time to deconstruct the assumptions which can distort a biblical perspective on manhood and womanhood. Elsewhere in this issue we have a strong focus on reaching out with the Gospel. Peter Loughridge continues to encourage us to reach deprived neighbourhoods whilst David Duly considers why our witness in Belfast is so limited. I was also greatly encouraged by the account of RPCNA church planting in Dallas. In the latest instalment in our Women of the Bible series we learn from Martha’s busyness whilst Abigail has suggested eight commitments those with extended summer breaks could make. You’ll also find the honest reflections of a former Orangeman on why he’s no longer spending his summer marching to the sound of a Lambeg. I hope you enjoy each of these articles as much as I have. Finally, we would like to welcome Helen McKelvey to the editorial team. Helen has contributed film reviews to the magazine for the last year, and we are delighted she has now agreed to join the team. Yours, James
IN THIS ISSUE Scan this code to subcribe online for free FACEBOOK | Like us at facebook.com/THEMESSENGERMAG TWITTER | Follow us at twitter.com/MESSENGER_MAG All news items and articles must be with the committee by the first of the month prior to publication and be in accordance to the requested word count. Any reports of events, camps or go teams should be no longer than 350 words. The Editorial team reserve the right to alter the content and adjust the layout of all work submitted. S.D.G.
“Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control” 2 Peter 1:4-5 2 THE MESSENGER | may - june 2015
psalm 20
FIND OUT WHY DAVID MCCULLOUGH THINKS PSALM 20 IS THE “CHRISTIAN HAKA”
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Un peu, beaucoup, aveuglément 12 “FRENCH CINEMA IS QUIRKY AND UNDOUBTEDLY FRENCH...THIS FILM DID NOT DISAPPOINT”
dallas church plant
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READ ABOUT THE NEWEST CONGREGATION OF THE RPCNA, IN DALLAS, TEXAS
WORKING FOR GOD challenge
Consider two completely different jobs – an Accountant and a Minister of the gospel. Which of these jobs would you describe as ‘working for God’? Often in life we can be guilty of making a sacred-secular divide. We think that the ‘sacred’ areas of life, such as church life or missionary service, are important to God but that the ‘secular’ areas, such as our jobs or our education, are of little importance to God. When we think of the Kingship of Christ, we should realise that Christ is King over all areas of our lives. Whether it is the Church, our nation, our education, our recreation or our jobs – there is nothing in this world which can be described as ‘spiritually neutral’. This thought is summed up well in Colossians 3 v 17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” God is interested in all areas of our lives – there is no such thing as a sacred-secular divide. With this in mind, let us consider how God wants us to work in the different vocations where he has placed us. Colossians 3 v 22-24: “Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” God wants us to obey our ‘earthly masters’ in everything. This can be easily done if we have a kind and good boss, but the same is applied if we work for someone unreasonable. Our obedience should be the same when they are watching us as when
they are away on holiday. We should give our full attention to every task that we are given and seek at all times to work to the best of our ability – recognising that our abilities are a gift from God. It is worth remembering that there are occasions when it is not right to obey your manager – e.g. if you are asked to do something that is clearly contrary to God’s Word (like being dishonest). Your faith must never be left at the doorstep of the workplace. The verses in Colossians give us two very good reasons why we should obey those over us. 1. Our ultimate boss: Ultimately, we are serving and working for the Lord Jesus. This should give us a greater motivation to work. We are no longer working to please other people, but we are seeking to please Christ. 2. Our incentive scheme: Perhaps you are offered a form of performance related pay each year such as an annual bonus – this is not the incentive scheme which should motivate you. As a Christian, we are reminded that our incentive scheme offers an ‘inheritance’ as our reward. This inheritance is an eternity with Christ – a reward which isn’t performance related but which is based on Christ’s death on the cross for our sins.
ROGER SLOAN Cookstown Fellowship
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SERIES
In Part 1, we asked you to think of a deprived area near your church, or in your town or city. A place with high levels of crime, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, broken families, sexual abuse and so on. We call them ‘schemes’ in Scotland, and in Ireland and the rest of the UK they’re usually called ‘estates’. Keep that specific area near your house or your church in your mind as you read these articles. In Part 1 we also asked you to imagine that you’re a pioneer missionary who’s been sent to some remote part of the world where they know nothing about Christianity. How would you begin to try to reach people with the good news of the Bible? How – practically – would your desire to reach those people shape how you lived your life from day to day? We reckoned three important ways of beginning to reach people in any time or place would be: 1. Learn the culture 2. Live in the area 3. Love the people And it’s the same three important points we want to focus on as we think about reaching deprived areas in the UK and Ireland. (For the record – the absolute most important factor in any evangelism is that you yourself passionately love Jesus and his Gospel, but these are the factors that come after that!) 1. LEARN THE CULTURE We thought about positive characteristics 4 THE MESSENGER | may - june 2015
of deprived areas, as well as negative. How can some of these be bridges to sharing and explaining the Gospel? How can we (usually unintentionally) put up barriers to the Gospel by the way we talk and act or the expectations we have? This brings us to the main point of this second article: HEALTH WARNING! This one’s usually the least popular when we talk about it! 2. LIVE IN THE SCHEME This point is probably one of the biggest lessons we’ve learned in our three years in North Edinburgh so far. And yet it’s something we all already know. In our ‘pioneer missionary’ example above, it’s probably just assumed by most of us that you would go and live among the people you’re trying to reach! Our church doesn’t expect Malcolm and Muriel Ball or Andy and Heather Lytle to reach the lost in Nantes by sending them emails or visiting the city a few times each year! They moved there. The North American
RP missionaries currently reaching South Sudan aren’t trying to spread the Gospel by Skype! They moved there. And if you truly want to reach that deprived area of your town or city, you need to move there. Live in the scheme! Why is this so important? If we don’t, we’re saying to non-Christians in deprived areas: “You need Jesus. You must hear about Jesus and give your life to Jesus. You urgently need Jesus ... but not enough for me to put myself or my family out for your sake.” If we don’t live in the area but we’re trying to reach the people there, it looks
to them that you think you’re better than they. They’ll think: “You talk like you care about me and about this community. But why don’t you live here?” For some of us, our attempt to reach housing schemes is like parachuting into enemy territory on Sunday (and maybe, if we’re ultra devoted, a few times during the week) but then running for cover afterwards! Living in the area actually makes it easier to reach people. You go to the same Post Office as they. Your kids go to the same school and play in the same park. You bump into them in the same chippy on Saturday night. It doesn’t need to be planned months in advance for them to pop into your house to watch the Champions League or the X Factor – because they just live up the street. You can go along to the community activity days and get to know people who are really involved in your community and know what’s going on. All along you’re building relationships, and you’re getting to know people, and you’re showing that you’re committed to them as individuals and to your community – rather than just parachuting in occasionally. Living in the scheme is also important because, for many of us, we’re cultural outsiders. We’re different enough already from most of the people we’re trying to reach. You’re already an outsider to many people in a deprived area if you’ve had a Christian upbringing, if you’ve gone to university, if you’ve got a job or own your own car, if you go on nice holidays, or if all your family members are still speaking to each other. Those things aren’t your fault, but they do make you different. So why make yourself even more different by living somewhere else? If you live among them, over time you will get to know them and you yourself will get known. You’re earning yourself a hearing and a right to speak into people’s lives (even though all those other differences about family background, education, etc may still be true). Lots of people want to move out of the scheme – you’ll get people’s attention if you’re moving in! If people see you willing to move into their community, they may think: “This Jesus person they keep talking about may actually have some importance.” What obstacles in our minds get in the way of us going and living in a deprived area? We think there are two main obstacles – our comfort, and the safety of our family and especially our children. Our comfort is definitely not a good reason not to reach someone with Jesus’ good news. If we’re honest with ourselves, for a lot of us a housing scheme quite simply doesn’t
seem like a nice place to live. It’s unlikely to provide you with the dream house you’ve longed for all your life. If that’s what’s holding us back, it’s something we need to repent of and pray through. Our comfort should never get in the way of reaching those who are going to Hell. Remember that Jesus left Heaven so that we could be saved. Worrying about the safety of our wives or children seems, on the surface at least, to be a much more reasonable concern. In fact, don’t we have Biblical responsibilities to care for those God has entrusted to us? Is a deprived area a good place to raise our family? For Christian men especially, this can be a big deal – particularly any of you who are dads, or soon-to-be dads, or maybesomeday-will-be dads. Men are supposed to be the leaders in their homes. They have a duty to protect and care. All we can say is this – if God is laying a burden on your heart to reach the people in that scheme that’s on your mind as you read these articles, then you need to be wholehearted in your obedience. Jim Elliot, in the 1950s, had a heart to reach tribes in the jungles of Ecuador known to be violent and dangerous towards outsiders. So he moved there. He got married and his wife came to live there. Their only child was born there. And a year later, Jim was killed by the tribes he was trying to reach. He famously said: “Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.” If you want to reach a scheme, be all there. If you believe God is calling you to reach deprived areas, let him take care of your family! And if anything at all is getting in the way of you obeying God – even good things like family – then you’re making them an idol. Young couples our age can easily make their home and their family into their god. Don’t give these things the throne in your life that belongs to God alone. Don’t let them stop you obeying God. Realistically our children need God’s mighty protection – physical and spiritual – in the pleasant leafy suburbs as much as in the rundown housing scheme! Yes, reaching deprived areas may cost you something. But Jesus said if we want to follow him we need to count the cost (Luke 14:25 onwards). Christian husbands and dads – what kind of God do you want to represent to your family? Surely the message you want your family to get is: “I serve an awesome God. Jesus is more important to me than anything else. I love him and I’ll give everything I’ve got to following him. I’m willing to take risks for him since he died for me.’ Surely this is far better than
sending them the message of a ‘play-it-safe’ dad. We know this isn’t easy. It’s not difficult to understand, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to do. We’ve struggled with this ourselves. When we first moved to Edinburgh, we couldn’t get a house in the schemes beside the church. We tried but had to move in somewhere else until something became available. As the months passed – in our nice apartment, beside the Firth of Forth, just one mile away but another world away from the schemes we wanted to reach – we started to think: “We could reach them from here.” We’d drive through the schemes and think, quietly: “Do we really want to bring up our kids here?” There was a huge temptation to stay where we were. We were still really close, but we weren’t among the people we wanted to reach. And we were kidding ourselves by thinking it’d be OK to stay there. Now we do live in one of those schemes. And we can say it’s well worth it. It works! Within the first few days of moving in here in October 2013, we had people calling at our door whom we’d been trying for months to arrange to meet! Now we always see people we know when we pop to the shops or we’re walking down the street. Relationships with people are moving on far quicker and growing far stronger, now that we live in the area. Some others from the church have moved in too and are finding the same thing. Do you really want to reach deprived areas? Many of our churches are making some effort to reach a nearby estate, but few or none from the church actually live there. You can’t do it from a distance. Go and live among them.
PETER AND EMMA LOUGHRIDGE North Edinburgh RPC PS! You’ll find lots of useful articles about reaching deprived areas on the 20Schemes website – www.20schemes.com. Subscribe to get regular updates from their blog. On the subject of living in the scheme, 20Schemes director Mez McConnell has written a really challenging blog post entitled ‘Planting Church in Hard Places – But What About Our Children?’ However, the web address for the article seems to keep changing! At the time of going to press, it can be found at http://niddriepastor.com/ category/church-planting. If it’s not there, do an online search for the title of the article. Or contact us – we’ll send you a copy!
STRENGTHENING REFORMED YOUNG PEOPLE TO REACH THE NATIONS FOR GOD’S GLORY
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cover article
A woman’s place?
A response to ‘Biblical Patriarchy’ It is dangerously easy to read things into the Bible that are not really there. One of the vitally important principles we must always employ in studying the Bible is to seek to hear what a text is actually saying, avoiding importing into our understanding things that actually derive from our own personality or from the culture that we live in. These ‘imports’ will twist our understanding of the text, and often will result in us hearing only what we want to hear from the Word of God. One of the areas in which this happens is in relation to the place of women in church and society. Does the Bible tell us that men should not do household chores? Does the Bible tell us that a woman should not be the boss of a company or the leader of a nation? What roles can or should men and women fulfil? Some sincere, Biblebelieving people claim that the Bible gives very definite instructions on matters such as these. The movement known as ‘biblical patriarchy’, which has influence in some Reformed circles, argues, for example, that the role of married women is, with occasional exceptions, confined to the home and family, and that the headship of males in church and family carries over 6 THE MESSENGER | may - june 2015
into wider society, so that women (or at least married women) should not work as equals alongside men in commercial, industrial or governmental spheres. On such a basis, for example, no male teacher should ever work under a female principal in a school. No male civil servant should be answerable to a female superior. The applications, however, are almost endless. Part of the attraction of ‘biblical patriarchy’ comes from the efforts of some in the society around us to abolish any distinction between men and women, and to require virtual interchangeability between male and female in every area of life. To suggest any distinction is to attract charges of being anti-women, androcentric (look it up!) or, horror of horrors, ‘fundamentalist’. In reaction to such unbiblical excesses, some Christians find the apparent certainties of ‘biblical patriarchy’ very attractive, especially since it seems to be firmly rooted in Scripture. It is propounded by respected Reformed figures like R. C. Sproul Jr, whose books and addresses have helped so many. What’s not to like?
The real question, of course, is: ‘What
does the Bible actually say?’ Sincere Christians have claimed that the Bible teaches all sorts of things that it does not. Is ‘biblical patriarchy’ in the Bible, or could it be a reflection of a traditional culture prevalent in Christian circles for generations, a culture that had a very restricted view of the role of women in church, family and society? Is it a coincidence that some Christians, on both sides of the Atlantic, regard the 1950s as a kind of ‘golden age’? So, what does the Bible say? We must first affirm that Scripture teaches the spiritual equality and equal value of men and women. Women are not an inferior species, somehow less bearers of the image of God than men (Genesis 1:27). Though Galatians 3:28 may be misused by feminists and others, it remains true that as far as spiritual standing before God by grace is concerned, ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ Two other things are clear. In the church, authority is in the hand of ordained
male elders. In the family, the husband is ‘head’ of the wife. We need to take a closer look at both of these. There are plenty of able expositions of the Bible’s teaching on male eldership, so we will not cover that ground here. What we do need to emphasise in the context of ‘biblical patriarchy’ is that within the context of male elders exercising loving servant leadership and authority, women can fulfil many roles in the church which make good use of their gifts. In that sense we must believe in ‘the ministry of women’. The Bible is not prescriptive in this area, and we must beware of allowing the world’s view (and the view of some very traditionally minded Christians) regarding what is and is not ‘women’s work’ to govern church life and narrow their scope for service in ways that the Bible does not. Indeed in many situations of pastoral care for women it would be foolish for male elders to minister without the presence and help of godly women. We must beware of giving the impression that we are obsessed with what women cannot or must not do, and have little interest in what they can and should do, nor must we suggest that, whilst no woman can be an elder, any man can – only men called and gifted by God can serve as elders. As far as the family is concerned, in the context of the husband exercising loving headship which reflects Christ’s love for his church, the wife is to ‘submit’ to her husband. The key passage of Scripture in this regard is Ephesians 6:22-33. Efforts by feminist commentators to remove any
idea of authority from Paul’s use of the word ‘head’ simply do not stand up in the face of the linguistic evidence. Such authority, however, is never to be exercised in a selfish or harsh way. The goal of the husband is always to be for the benefit of his wife, especially her growth in grace. It will not entail a dictatorship, and decisions will usually be made together. A husband who does not draw on the wisdom of his wife is truly a fool. But, if unity is impossible, the final decision must rest with the husband. Apart from such rare occasions, the marriage should be a partnership in which the gifts of both husband and wife are employed to the full. Eve, after all, was created to be a ‘helper suitable for’ Adam (Genesis 2:18), not a doormat. That said, the Bible is not at all prescriptive about the allocation of responsibilities within marriage, but allows tremendous flexibility. Much is left to each couple to discern their gifts and decide ‘who does what’. If he has trouble adding two and two, he shouldn’t be doing the accounts. It is at this point that culture, even ‘Christian’ culture, adds to what the Bible actually says. The evangelical author of one book on the family who asserted that he could not allow his son to see him change a baby’s nappy as it would undermine the boy’s understanding of masculinity was speaking more of the language of his culture than the language of the Bible. It is particularly in this area that ‘biblical patriarchy’ raises serious questions. Many of its prescriptions reflect culture rather than Scripture, and a very rigid, prescriptive culture at that. In one article by Reformed writer Doug
Wilson (‘Not Where She Should Be’) the author offers advice for dealing with a wife’s failings that might be employed in addressing a recalcitrant child, but would spell disaster for a marriage relationship. It is tragic when such man-centred ideas are illegitimately foisted on the Bible. As far as wider social relationships are concerned, it has to be noted that the Bible requires the wife to submit to her husband: it does not require every woman to submit to every man. The idea of submission cannot be exported into society as a basis for insisting that no woman, in the workplace, for example, can exercise authority over a man. ‘Biblical patriarchy’ insists that in work, commerce, government and the military, no woman should be the equal, much less the superior of a man. Indeed, if women confined themselves, supposedly on biblical grounds, to the home, many of these social problems would never arise. Once again culture is interpreting the Bible, rather than the Bible shaping culture. However sincere the proponents of these views are, and we do not doubt that they are sincere, the Word of God alone is our authority for Christian living in the home, in the church and in the world. Far from being a restrictive, negative force, truly biblical Christianity is liberating and positive. After all, ‘…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom’ (2 Corinthians 3:17).
DAVID MCKAY Shaftesbury Sq. RPC
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FEATURE
THE DALLAS CHURCH PLANTING STORY In 2004 the Midwest Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) sensed God’s urgent call to reach out to plant new Bible study groups that would develop and grow into new congregations. The Presbytery appointed a Regional Home Missionary, Robert McFarland, as a part time coordinator of the outreach of congregations and other new works in the presbytery. With the counsel and encouragement of the Church Extension and Evangelism Committee (CEEC) of the presbytery, it was decided to explore a city within our Presbytery bounds: Dallas, Texas. The Dallas/Fort Worth area has a population of over seven million souls (ninth largest city in the United States). An appeal was made through the Reformed Presbyterian Witness and the Covie-Net to seek out any information about Reformed Presbyterians to contact in the Dallas area. By November, 2004, we heard from about 31 families of RPC connections who were living in the Dallas area. Invitations were sent to all these families inviting them to a “gathering” arranged by the Regional Home Missionary along with the Stillwater, Oklahoma, pastor, Bruce Parnell. A Power Point presentation of the present RPCNA denomination was shown and discussion followed. Out of the 31 contacts, eleven couples came. Each in turn told of their interest in a new Reformed Presbyterian Church and their spiritual experience of earlier spiritual impact by the RPCNA in other states. All but two explained that they were now involved as leaders in some Reformed body and that we were 10-15 years late for their families to change denominations! H o w e v e r , 8 THE MESSENGER | may - june 2015
Bob and Bruce presented the desire of Presbytery to start a RPCNA church in the area. A Christian School building was made available for worship services the next Lord’s Day, but only one responded, so Presbytery decided to postpone further work in the Dallas area for a time. Nearly ten years later, word came to our Regional Home Missionary telling of several families that were gathering each Lord’s Day in the Dallas area to study the Confession of Faith and singing a capella Psalmody. They asked if we could help them organize a church-planting ministry in the Dallas area. Once again, a “gathering” of those interested parties was organized in Dallas with the Regional Home Missionary and pastors of the Stillwater and Enid, Oklahoma, RP congregations. It was a very special night of Psalm singing and asking questions about moving forward with a church plant. From that time, the group started to meet weekly for Bible studies that dealt with the distinctives of the RPCNA. A Dallas Commission was appointed by the presbytery, and in May, 2013, the group was given encouragement to start a weekly morning worship service. In God’s providence, he was working in the heart of a pastor, Mark Koller, to seek out ministerial membership in the RPCNA. Mark was employed as a chemist, but was also an ordained minister. His convictions and his decision, and ordination vows as a minister in the RPCNA, happened nearly two years before our Presbytery began to explore the Dallas area in 2013. Mark’s account (as printed in The Reformed Presbyterian Witness) will help you see how God worked in his heart and
in the Presbytery’s development of a fully organized congregation. “About five years ago, while doing a study of the Regulative Principle of worship, I became convinced about the exclusive singing of the Psalms. Further study led me to the Covenanters and to the doctrine of mediatorial kingship. Eventually our family found the RPCNA. In November, 2012 we traveled to the Stillwater RP church (285 miles) and joined them with the hope of eventually moving somewhere else in the denomination to seek a Call. We had no idea that the Lord was raising up other families in the area with the same desire to plant a church in Dallas. Our family was excited to be a part of the initial meeting in February, 2013. It was amazing to meet other families in the Dallas area who also shared a strong love for the RPCNA. . . . After months of meeting in a hotel room, we found a Seventh Day Adventist School that was unused on the Lord’s Day” In November, 2013 the group became a mission church, and leased their own store-front meeting space which is available to them 24/7. On March 6, 2015, the Dallas Reformed Presbyterian Church was fully organized by the Midwest Presbytery, RPCNA. The new congregation’s members (including 19 communicants and 15 baptized) then elected two ruling elders, one deacon, and their pastor, Mark Koller. We rejoice in this exciting beginning in Dallas! Your prayers are requested.
BOB MCFARLAND Topeka RPCNA, Kansas
Jo Caird/Rugb
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DAVID MCCULLOUGH Dromore RPC
Jo Caird/RugbyImages
psalm 20: OUR Haka THE WORD ‘Haka’ instantly evokes the image of a giant, wide-eyed, All Black rugby player chanting, slapping his thighs and sticking out his tongue. Like many Maori Hakas it is designed to build up the spirits of the warriors and strike fear into the enemies. Psalm 20 is the ‘Christian Haka’, given by our chief to stir up weary soldiers for battle. It is to teach us how to pray for the work of the Kingdom and do battle for the King. This song was originally penned by King David to prepare his soldiers for the battle. Imagine how his heart would have been thrilled to hear his men sing to him, “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble” (v1), “May he send you help” (v2), “May he remember all your offerings” (v3), “May he grant you your heart’s desire” (v4), “May we shout for joy over your salvation” (v5). The chorus of battle-ready soldiers inspired out a wave of confidence, ‘Now
I know that the Lord saved his anointed… Some trust in chariots… But we trust in the name of the Lord our God’ (v6, 7). With one voice the whole army belts out, “O LORD save the King! May he answer us when we call” (v9). Such a scene of soldiers rallying round their king brings out goose bumps on anyone with a pulse. Unlike David, our King doesn’t need our prayers to support him; he never did and never will. But King Jesus is intimately attached to his troops and our passion and our priority are to be praying for the advance of his Kingdom. With such passion our King is well pleased. There are soldiers battling in lands where persecution is rife and they need your prayers. Missionaries across our own continent are waging war amidst materialism and secularism; they need you to call in Heaven’s resources. There are battlefield situations in your congregation that don’t need dissected
in the car park after worship but united humble petitions crying out to Heaven. Psalm 20 calls us to pray passionately for the King’s Kingdom and break out of our tiny, self-absorbed worlds. We can give ourselves, with utmost confidence, to this kingdom work because our King has sung and prayed this battle hymn before us. All his enemies will ‘collapse and fall’ (v7). So just do it! And do it with buoyancy and composure for our King has won the victory, defeated the enemy and is with us on the battlefield, rallying his troops to advance in his name. As you do battle for the kingdom, remember your Haka, Psalm 20. You will be glad to know that you don’t need to do the thigh-slapping and arm-waving; just sing it out loud and clear, breathe in its invigorating fumes and belt out the battle cry, “O LORD, save the king.”
BALLYCLABBER 5 A SIDE FOOTBALL SATURDAY 18TH JULY KICK OFF 1.00PM | £15 PER TEAM RPC5FC@GMAIL.COM / 07912651579 CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES 14TH JULY STRENGTHENING REFORMED YOUNG PEOPLE TO REACH THE NATIONS FOR GOD’S GLORY
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Un peu, beaucoup, aveuglément film review
When the Messenger Committee told me they wanted me to keep writing articles despite being in France, I had to make lots of effort to not see French films. However, since this will be my last long distance effort, I figured this could be the exception. “Un peu, beaucoup, aveuglément” (A little, a lot, blindly) is not only French, but a rom com. So there is certainly a contrast with my previous reviews. A quick note: French cinema is quirky and undoubtedly French, but most of it isn’t great. This film, however did not disappoint. Set in an apartment block in Paris, “Machin” and “Machine” have to learn to live together. Machine is a budding concert pianist preparing for the competition which could change her life, Machin is a brokenhearted, reclusive creator of puzzles who needs complete silence to work. Although they live in different buildings, their studios are connected by a thin wall, which means they can hear everything the other does. It’s charming and funny to watch the
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pair spar, become friends and fall in love but without ever seeing each other. Spats, misunderstandings and heartache ensues, but it’s a heart warming tale; quaint, and a refreshing twist on the standard rom com. French cinema is quirky and undoubtedly French, but most of it isn’t great. This film,
even though you cannot see Him? Just as Machin and Machine had to rely on their spoken relationship, we can rely on prayer and study of God’s Word to develop this beautiful relationship, possible through the redeeming blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. How sweet it will then be when we finally see our Lord in all His glory, as His eternally redeemed and holy people!
however did not disappoint
After the initial battles of sound (Machin, like so many before him, is broken by a metronome) our protagonists finally crack and sit down to have a conversation. Machine, in the course of the conversation, remarks how they listen to each other so much more because of the fact they can’t see each other. The starvation of one sense leads to the development of others. It almost goes without saying that we can’t see God. And in this life, we won’t, unless Jesus returns and we are those blessed to see Him come in all His glory. But chins up, brothers and sisters, Jesus tells us that we are blessed by the invisibility of our God: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29b) My question to you today is, though you do not see, are you tuning in your other senses to God? Do you seek Him, to develop your relationship with Him,
“No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:3-5)
HELEN MCKELVEY Cullybackey RPC
Strange Fire: the danger of offending the Holy Spirit with counterfeit worship John MacArthur Thomas Nelson, 2013 RECENTLY the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, removed its ban on missionaries who spoke in tongues. What’s perhaps more surprising is that the ban ever existed in the first place. Charismatic and Pentecostal beliefs are becoming the default form of Christianity to the watching world. Every Saturday in Coleraine, the Vineyard church attempts ‘Healing on the Streets’. This has spread to many other churches in the UK, including one in Nottingham which had the Advertising Standards Agency step in to say that ‘robust evidence’ was needed to support their claims to heal back pain, arthritis, cancer etc. Recently a church in Armagh split over the teachings of the Californian Bethel Church, which has teams of people who try to raise the dead. Many highly respected figures like John Piper, Don Carson and Wayne Grudem have supported claims that phenomena like tongue speaking, the gift of healing and prophecy still exist today. However there are still a few voices pointing out that the emperor has no clothes – with this book being the highest profile response to the Charismatic Movement in recent years. MacArthur starts straight into denouncing Charismatics as ‘blasphemers’ and their movement as a ‘a false church, as dangerous as any cult or heresy that ever assaulted Christianity’. While MacArthur’s conclusions may be true, the problem is that he reaches them before investigating the claims of the Charismatics according to Scripture. He gets there eventually – but a convinced Charismatic couldn’t be blamed for having given up reading before he does. MacArthur also tends to lump all shades of
strange fire
Charismatics and Pentecostals in together, leading him to claim that they ‘primarily proclaim a gospel of health and wealth’. While undoubtedly many do, blanket statements like this will likely alienate those who don’t. The second chapter, which is probably where the book should have begun, examines the history of a movement which most of its proponents admit was unheard of before 1901. It turns out Pentecostals initially thought that their gift of tongues was the ability to speak in real human languages, like it was in the Bible, until they tried it on the mission field and it didn’t work. They then had to revise their beliefs and come up with the idea of ‘heavenly’ languages. The middle section of the book sees MacArthur take on key charismatic beliefs: modern day apostles, prophecies, tongues and people equipped with the gift of healing. MacArthur shows that arguing for apostles today is where you end up if you take the New Testament as a blueprint for what should happen in every generation rather than a record of what happened in one generation. His chapter on healing is entirely taken up with the obvious fraudsters Oral Roberts and Benny Hinn. Hinn believes there are 9 persons in the Trinity and rakes in $100 million annually – not hugely relevant to any sincere Christian who thinks the gift of healing is still around. The best part of the book, which should perhaps have come at the start, is MacArthur’s ‘Open letter to my Continuationist friends’. Here he acknowledges that, when he wrote ‘Charismatic Chaos’ twenty years ago, he was accused of concentrating on the
book review
whacky fringe. While that criticism could still be levelled at parts of Strange Fire, he points out that so called Reformed Continuationists are those who are on the fringe. It’s a convicting letter which points out the damage that is done by giving legitimacy to the broader Charismatic movement. If MacArthur seems angry throughout the book, this letter helps explain why. Perhaps the best illustration of the dangerous readiness of twenty-first century evangelicals to accept charismatic claims can be seen by comparing the reactions of John Piper and Charles Spurgeon to people who came to them with a message supposedly from the Lord. A woman told Piper that his wife was going to die in childbirth. He thanked her, wept and only knew it wasn’t true prophecy when it didn’t happen. By contrast, Spurgeon said: ‘Semilunatics are very fond of coming with messages from the Lord to me and it may save them some trouble if I tell them once and for all that I will have none of their stupid messages.’ An appendix with quotes from church history shows that it’s those like Piper, rather than Spurgeon, who are the exception. I would be slow to give this book to a Charismatic and I don’t like MacArthur’s style – but there is still much here that’s useful if you’re prepared to pick through it. Unlike at Bethel, you’ll have to dig for the gold dust rather than wait for it to fall on you.
STEPHEN STEELE Faughan RPC
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8 SUMMER COMMITMENTS Exams are finishing, coursework deadlines come and go and that end-ofterm excitement approaches. If you’re a student (or a teacher!) you may be looking forward to a 2 or 3 month summer stretching out in front of you. As Christians we can make vague presumptions we will read more, learn more and do more over these weeks of holiday but without the structure of our normal day the opposite can happen! Are you committed to some of the following?
t work on your quie
time
With so much time over holidays our devotional time is bound to improve, right? Yet without our normal routine we can get lazy and our commitment to Quiet Time can slip. Resolve not to let this happen and instead strengthen your devotions by keeping them at a regular time in the day and adding good books and memorisation.
‘His delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.’ Psalm 1v2
Go on a Go Team and help at your Holiday Bible Club
At the time of writing there are still spaces on all RP Go Teams taking place this summer. This is a great way to spread the Gospel, learn about evangelism and have fellowship with new and old friends. With teams happening right throughout the summer please consider being part of one or more. Everyone can and should be praying for these teams. We should also be playing a part in our own church outreach whether that’s in hosting a Go Team, leading in HBC or other forms of outreach.
‘Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.”’ Matthew 9v37-38
Memorise Scripture
Pick a passage now and commit to have it learnt by the end of the summer. Setting goals like a verse a week will help to make this realistic. Why not try part of Romans 8 printed here?
‘I have stored up your word in my heart, that I may not sin against you.’ Psalm 119v11
do some work
Summer holidays are a well deserved break for many but we need to be careful not to be lazy. Whether that means helping around the house or getting a part-time job to bring in extra funds, do something useful this summer! Be careful though - every circumstance is different but if your parttime job this summer means you aren’t doing your church HBC, going on a Go team or attending a summer camp, then perhaps your priorities need re-evaluated?
‘In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.’ Proverbs 14v23
None of our 5 summer Camps are full yet! So many have benefitted greatly from Camps over the years and have made lifelong friends. Even if you’re not going yourself, please encourage others to make an effort - the deadline is past though, so hurry! Please be very much in prayer for the leaders, officers and cooks who bear a lot of responsibility.
‘Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.’ Proverbs 22v6
read a book
We all have those books lying round purchased on a reduction from the last Camp Reunion or church event. Often my response to being asked what a book is like or to do a book review is ‘I have that book; haven’t read it yet though... Looks good!’ Let’s get some of them read this summer! We can learn much from the writing of older Christians.
‘Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.’ Philippians 3v17
get to know older people
There is so much wisdom in our churches’ older members that we won’t benefit from unless we talk to them. Why not make it your aim to visit/ get to know some of the senior members of your church and encourage them with your time?
‘You shall stand up before the grey head and honour the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.’ Leviticus 19v32 14 THE MESSENGER | may - june 2015
go to camp
get up
At least don’t lie in every day! Completely losing structure of our days means we’ll not get a lot of these things done. ‘As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.’ Proverbs 26v14
ABIGAIL NELSON Trinity RPC
P
P
Life in the Spirit – Romans 8 (ESV) 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh,could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
jargon deacon
jargon
When is this phrase used? Jesus is the only King and Head of his Church. He gives to his Church men in certain positions to lead and care for the Church. An ‘elder’ is one of these two official positions or roles (sometimes referred to as ‘offices’) that a man can hold within the Church. This title includes a Church’s teaching elder, or minister, or pastor. The other role is a ‘deacon’. What does it mean? The word the writers of the New Testament used for ‘deacon’ literally meant ‘servant’ in their language. So a deacon is a servant of the Church. The Book of Government and Order of the Reformed
PETER LOUGHRIDGE North Edinburgh RPC
Presbyterian Church of Ireland (known as ‘the Code’) says: ‘Deacons care for the needy, take charge of finance and attend to the temporal affairs [i.e. practical needs] of the congregation.’ Where does it come from? Read Acts 6:1-7. Here the Greekspeaking believers (‘Hellenists’–v1) in the New Testament Church felt that their widows weren’t getting a fair share of what had been given to the Church for the poor. It was clear that a new role was needed to oversee this kind of compassionate outreach, so that the apostles themselves could continue to focus on praying and teaching God’s Word (v2 and v4) and not
have their time and energy taken up with urgent practical needs like this. The word ‘deacon’ isn’t actually used in Acts 6 but it’s clear that a new position within the church was being established so that the teaching and ruling elders could focus on more spiritual issues in people’s lives. Also the New Testament words used in ‘daily distribution’ (v1) and ‘serving tables’ (v2) – which is what the apostles wouldn’t have to do once these new men took care of it – come from the same family of words as ‘deacon’. Later in the New Testament (1 Timothy 3:8-13) we are told what kind of men qualify to serve as deacons.
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SERIES
amanda slater
North, South, East and West
How can we spread our witness to the nationalist community across Northern Ireland? Our limited witness is due in part to our Province’s recent history. The Troubles and perhaps particularly the Orange Order have made it tremendously difficult to reach across our divided society. Although the Reformed Presbyterian Church has a noble history of opposing the Orange Order, the words ‘Presbyterian’ and ‘Reformed’ sound ‘Orange’ to some. No amount of literature distribution will distance us from the perception that to be Presbyterian is to be a Paisleyite. Sadly, we are fighting an uphill battle as soon as someone from a nationalist background receives a leaflet or reads our church sign. The consequences can be seen in our capital city. Perhaps a well-meaning North American RP would see a map of Belfast and ask, “ You have churches in the South and the East but what’s wrong with the North and the West?” We would probably stumble over an explanation of the effects of the Troubles. Belfast became an
unappealing city to live in and some places became ‘no go’ areas for any Protestant. Across the city tension and intimidation created enclaves and deepened Belfast’s historic divisions. Would my imaginary North American friend be satisfied? Perhaps his response would be, “I don’t know much about the history but I know about the Great Commission. I know that Jesus promised us that he would be with us wherever we go.” After a brief grumble about American
Words on leaflets won’t be enough here. They need a witness. It’s easy to say things and harder to do them. idealism we would have to conclude that he is right. Jesus is worthy of all honour. We ought to long that he would be praised
as the all-sufficient Saviour across our city. One of the problems is this. There just aren’t enough RPs living in North Belfast and in West Belfast. Literature with the words ‘Protestant’ and ‘Reformed’ is not going to cut it. Annually people attempt to walk through these areas holding banners with similar words. It never seems to produce good results. What these people need are Reformed Christian neighbours -people who use the same chippies as they do, shop at the same Spar and ask them to recommend a plasterer. Words on leaflets won’t be enough here. They need a witness. It’s easy to say things and harder to do them. As I write this in a North Belfast cafe, I have just had a lovely chat with the owner and then an old woman. I chatted about Eric Cantona with the old lady (she started it!), while enjoying a coffee and a bun with a strategically placed Bible on the table. It wasn’t difficult. What is the solution? Should we drop the words ‘Reformed’ and ‘Presbyterian’ from our literature and churches? Should we send Go teams in? Stop and think. We are quick to forget that our own denomination has many people from Nationalist or Catholic backgrounds. If any of us examine our family tree we will find unbelievers from a variety of backgrounds. How then did you end up where you are today? It’s not rocket science. Most likely one of your relatives heard the Gospel and the Spirit moved to do his work! This is the way it happens for us all! Why would it be different for anyone else?
DAVID DULY Carrickfergus RPC
16 THE MESSENGER | may - june 2015
Why I Left the Orange Order IT IS VERY EASY for us in the age we live in to get our Christian faith mixed up with culture and politics. While the Bible teaches us that Christians are to influence the society around us, all too often we ourselves, or other professing Christians we know, are detrimentally influenced by society. Not that long ago I found myself in this same position. My interest in history, politics and culture drew me towards the Orange Order, thinking this organisation best expressed my Christianity, cultural identity and political ideology. I blindly became a member not thinking of what I had really signed up to. Thanks to a godly friend I began to think about and question whether it was right for a Christian to be in the Orange Order. After much study and prayer I came to the conclusion that a Christian should not be in the Orange Order for four main reasons:
Unlawful oaths with unqualified allegiance to the British Crown
Those wanting to become members of an Orange Lodge have to take an oath but are not aware of what it entails. This means that the candidate does not know whether the oath he is about to take conflicts with God’s Word and he can only begin to consider the oath later on (Proverbs 20v24). Once I considered the oath I had taken I came to realise that I had in fact taken an oath to not report the crimes of other Orangemen, to uphold and support the British Constitution and all the laws of the land.
Influence of Freemasonry
Many people know of the anti-
Christian nature of the Masonic Order. However, it seems apparent that a lot of these people are unaware of the Masonic origins, influence and nature of the Orange Order. (The irony is that the more ‘Christian’ organisations such as the Royal Black Institution are in fact more Masonic in nature.) In fact, the Orange Order only exists because the local Masonic Lodges refused to help protect local Protestants from Roman Catholic attacks in County Armagh. All three founding members of the Orange Order, James Wilson, Dan Winter and James Sloan were dedicated Freemasons. The Orange Order was clearly not set up to promote the Christian faith but to protect citizens from attack and to eclipse the Freemasons. As a result of this Masonic influence the Orange Order has many symbols, titles and rituals which are anti-Christian.
Secrecy of Meetings
Orange Order meetings take place in secret with passwords and special knocks required to enter and take part in the meeting. While originally well intentioned, this should not be the practice of professing Christians meeting in a supposedly Christian organisation. This aspect of the Orange Order is in direct contradiction to how our Lord Jesus Christ lived and calls us to live (John 18v20).
Claims to Promote and Uphold the ‘True Protestant Faith’
The Orange Order claims to ‘uphold the true Protestant faith’ but this is not its job. The Orange Order was not instituted by Jesus Christ. The Church is his bride and was instituted and upheld by him. Therefore, it is the job of the Church to promote Godly living and uphold the truth
contained in God’s Word (Titus 1v5-9). To add to this, how the Orange Order conducts itself is actually detrimental to ‘upholding the true Protestant faith’. Its failure to denounce violence and sinful living and its anti-Roman Catholic rhetoric have created a stumbling block to unbelievers which hinders the proclamation of the Gospel and damages the witness of evangelical Christians and Churches by association. The Order shows little or no discernment when it comes to the professions of faith that are required for membership. Many members of the Orange Order show no works to prove their faith (James 2v26) and the Order fails to rebuke and discipline members who resort to violence and sinful living. A Church with unbelieving members, especially those in positions of leadership would be failing to follow God’s Word and would likely be criticised by the Orange Order for doing so, yet it allows the same to happen without comment. All of our life is to be spiritual worship to God (Romans 12v1-2) and worship is to be done in accordance with and obedience to God’s Word. Professing Christians must stay clear of this organisation and warn others about it. But we must remember that there are many genuine Christians in the Orange Order who are unaware of the unbiblical nature of the organisation. We must act graciously towards and pray for these men, asking our heavenly Father to reveal to them the error that they have made, knowing that it is God who has given us spiritual sight into this issue.
JONNY FITZSIMONS Trinity RPC
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women of the bible ‘BUSY’ IS A WORD that people often use to describe their lives; busy working, studying, looking after kids, running a home or with church activities. Perhaps we like to talk about how busy we are because it makes us feel better about ourselves, that we have so many important things to do with our time. We may consider it a badge of honour that we are so busy. Martha is one of these ‘I’m so busy’ people in Luke 10v38-42. Jesus’ response to Martha in this passage warns us that it is not something to be proud of and that being too busy can be to our detriment. The first time we meet Martha we see a woman with a generous and hospitable nature as she ‘welcomed (Jesus) into her house’. Hospitality is a spiritual gift and it is right that Martha should use it to serve others, however as we read on it becomes apparent that Martha is not using her gift in the right way. Martha and Mary had a choice as to how they would spend their time whenever Jesus and His disciples came to visit: busy around in activity for the entertainment and comfort of their visitors, or sit and listen to the teaching of Jesus. Martha and Mary clearly chose differently; Martha chose the former and Mary the latter. Depending on our personalities our natural inclinations may sway us one way or another. There are those who find it hard to sit still as their minds are busy thinking about the things that must be done next. Others are more contemplative and find it more natural to spend some time every day meditating on God’s word. This passage teaches all of us that our priority should be spending time with Jesus, no matter our personality or spiritual gifts. The first warning we have that 18 THE MESSENGER | may - june 2015
Martha made the wrong choice is when she becomes irritated with Jesus and Mary. Martha had got herself so wound up with the importance of her service and how busy she was that she became irritated with Mary and criticised Jesus for not noticing her need and sending Mary to help her. There was clearly a lack of joy in her service for others and a turning of her focus onto herself and how she was feeling. This is because Martha had put acts of service before her relationship with Jesus. Ultimately becoming distracted from Jesus and putting herself first: MY sister is letting ME do all the work. Why won’t you tell her to help ME.
We must be careful that we do not make this same mistake and take our focus from Jesus. If we do, we will start ‘serving’ for our own selfish reasons rather than for the ultimate goal of furthering God’s kingdom. Martha was going above and beyond what was necessary to serve Jesus and His disciples at this
time (v 42) indicating that the service was now for her own satisfaction rather than for those she was meant to be serving. Our reasons may be to impress others, receive praise for ourselves, to keep up the appearance of spirituality or we may even have fallen into the mistake of believing it is our service that saves us rather than Christ alone. Of course, the irony is that if our ‘service’ is springing from our own motives then it’s not true service. Jesus teaches us this in his gentle rebuking of Martha, stating that all the busyness and preparation that she is involved in for her guests is not necessary. The only necessity is to sit at his feet and listen to his teaching. Real service springs out of a heart that dwells in, and is devoted to Jesus. Only then will it be the service God desires of us and only then will it be fruitful service. John 15v4 says that ‘the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me’. Like Martha and her sister Mary we all have a choice of how we prioritise our time and use our gifts. We must take heed to what Jesus teaches Martha; prioritise him in your life ‘for he is the good portion that will not be taken from you’. Jesus was incredibly busy but he set aside time to spend with his Father. He has paid the price for our selfishness and sin so that you can depend on him rather than your busyness. Make time daily to sit at your saviour’s feet and learn from him, even before all the plans you have for church service that week. Read the Bible, pray and meditate on him. You’ll be much more fruitful if you do.
CHARLOTTE WRIGHT Cullybackey RPC
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Attention aux élèves et étudiants! Are you between Year 12 and University Level 2? Are you studying French and considering spending time in France? If the answer to any of these is yes, then are you considering time in Nantes?
Enough with the preamble and rhetorical questions I hear you cry! Let me explain why you should consider Nantes. This is primarily aimed at L2 university students, but if you are studying French at any level, I would recommend you give this some serious thought. Firstly, you should consider Nantes for the church. Not only do we have an RP church in France, but a church that LOVES students. Not only will you be strengthened in your faith, make new friends and receive top notch hospitality, you have the incredible opportunity to support and encourage your brothers and sisters for whom church is a very different experience. Why not come and share your gifts and Christ's love here? It should also be noted that no matter where you go for your year abroad, church should be a priority - do not deprive yourself of family and fellowship for a year - make the most of this opportunity to get to know the members of your Christian family from around the globe. The year abroad also provides a unique chance to be involved in the church in Nantes (or anywhere) in a much more regular
manner, rather than as part of a GO team. Secondly, Nantes is a fabulous city. The city is hiving with students, full of exciting places to visit and explore and is very easy to get to. It's beautiful; full of green spaces and, despite what the locals say, the weather is definitely better than what we find in NI. Paris is only 2 1/2 hours away; the sea less than an hour, and the options for day trips into Brittany, the Vendée and the Loire Valley are limitless. Thirdly, Nantes and the surrounding region are quite low demand with the British Council, so you are more likely to get it if it is your first choice on application. Finally, the only way to really improve your fluency in French is to live in France, so get going!
If you have any questions about the year abroad, life as a language assistant, applications, or any general concerns, don't hesitate to get in touch with me by email, letter, text, or carrier pigeon.
madasahelen@hotmail.co.uk
20 THE MESSENGER | may - june 2015