The Record - February 2019 by Free Church of Scotland

THE

RECORD

MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND FEBRUARY 2019 • £2.00

Editor • Rev. David A Robertson The Editor, The Record, St Peter’s Free Church, 4 St Peter Street, Dundee, DD1 4JJ 07825 748752 drobertson@freechurch.org News Editor • Dayspring MacLeod dayspring.macleod@icloud.com 07974 261567 Missions News • Mrs Sarah Johnson Free Church Offices, 15 North Bank Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS sarah@freechurch.org WFM Editor • Sarah Cumming 31 Doune Park, Dalgety Bay, KY11 9LX sarah.cumming@hotmail.co.uk Gaelic Editor • Janet MacPhail 24 North Bragar, Isle of Lewis, HS2 9DA 01851 710354 Seminary News • Rev. Thomas Davis St. Columba's Free Church, Johnston Terrace Edinburgh, EH1 2PW thomas@stcolumbas.freechurch.org Prayer Diary • Mrs Mairi Macdonald ian.macdonald57@btinternet.com Design & Layout • Fin Macrae @DUFI Art www.dufi-art.com The Record • ISSN 2042-2970

Advertising • Anyone wishing to advertise in The Record should contact the editor.

This QR Code will direct you to the digital version of the magazine on ISSUU. Available for 30 days for current print subscribers. iPhone: Open your camera app and hold the lens above the QR Code, it will automatically detect the link which you can click on to open. Android: Download QR Code Reader from Google Play Store and follow app directions.

For Subscriptions • The annual subscription price for The Record is £33. Cheques should be made payable to: Free Church of Scotland. Please contact the offices for overseas subscription costs. Details of the church's activities, latest news and people to contact are all available on the church's website: www.freechurch.org

For the visually impaired: Please contact Norman Kennedy on 01463 240192 for details of how to obtain The Record in an audio version.

The Free Church of Scotland is a registered charity SC012925 • Women for Mission is a registered charity SC03898

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY

Cover: Photo by Skye Studios on Unsplash

Published • The Record is produced by The Free Church of Scotland, Free Church Offices, 15 North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS 0131 226 5286 offices@freechurch.org

WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY RECORD

CONTENTS 04

PARLIAMENTARY CHAOS

DEVOTIONAL: THE INSPIRATION OF FAITH Donnie G. MacDonald

FREE CHURCH NEWS

LETTERS

CHURCH PLANTING IN GLASGOW

TESTIMONY: CHRISTINA NERCESSIAN

ETS NEWS

TRANSFORMING SCOTLAND Andy Hunter

OBITUARY Rev. Donald Douglas McClure

A DEPRESSING VIEW OF HUMANITY Sarah Allen

ECCLESIASTES: TRUE WORSHIP

DEUS VULT, MEDICE CURA: PART III Anonymous

RENEWAL IN THE VALLEY John-Edward Funnell

THREE THINGS I'VE LEARNED FROM JOHN ALLEN CHAU Mark Powell

THE IOLAIRE TRAGEDY AND THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Nigel Anderson

THE IOLAIRE COMMEMORATION SERVICE Alasdair Macleod

WOMEN FOR MISSION COMMITTEE

BOOK REVIEWS

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS Dayspring MacLeod

MISSION MATTERS David Meredith

See you next month!

GAELIC Janet MacPhail

Yours in Christ

POETRY PAGE Sue McCreadie

PRAYER DIARY

POST TENEBRAS LUX Catriona Murray

received an interesting complaint a while ago .

Why do you mention other churches, but there is nothing about my church? It’s a great question to which there are two straightforward answers. Firstly, we look at what is happening in other churches because there is only one Church, the bride of Jesus Christ. The Free Church is a tiny part of that — and so it is good for us to hear what the Lord is doing in other parts of the Vineyard. That’s why this month you will hear from a fascinating story from the Welsh valleys. I suspect only a handful of readers will ever have heard of Noddfa church. Once you have read this month’s Record you will have — something which I hope will inspire, make you thankful and drive you to prayer. As to the reason why there was nothing about their Free Church. It’s simple — we have received nothing about it. We are not omniscient, and cannot know what is going on without being told about it. The Record relies on getting information from a variety of sources — the most important of which is from the Free Churches throughout the country. This month it appears that very little has been going on…it’s good to get news of a new deacon in Dunblane, a new church in Glasgow and the commemoration of the Iolaire. But is that all that has been going on in the Free Church? Please let us know what is happening in your church and in your area. Give advance warning of upcoming events so that we can help publicise them. And let us know how they go... Meanwhile, there is a lot for you to get your teeth into this month. Much to think about and much to pray for. Not least the situation facing the United Kingdom in Brexit and the ongoing chaos being caused by the adoption of an anti-Christian worldview amongst those who govern us. We would also like you to engage with any of the issues raised in the magazine. What, for example, do you think of the letter from Alan Fraser? Feel free to send in your responses. •

The Editor

2019

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY

©Brian Jackson — stock.adobe.com

PARLIAMENTARY

CHAOS BY THE EDITOR

re we in a time of crisis?

At the time of writing — and I suspect by the time this is published — the country seems to be in chaos…or so the papers and media would have us believe. The collective sense of panic and hysteria is not particularly helpful. Headlines screaming that there are going to be a shortage of medicines almost guarantee that people will stockpile and thus create the prophesied shortage. Perhaps we need to take a step back and ask what is going on? Especially those of us who are Christians — because we are called upon to pray for ‘those in authority’. It’s always good for prayer to be informed prayer. The British government last month suffered the largest defeat in history. In these circumstances it would be normal for the Prime Minister to resign and yet the following day she won a vote of confidence. It does seem that in terms of our political leaders there is a great deal of chaos. In an era of ‘fake news’ and ‘misinformation’ it’s good to remind ourselves of the facts that we have. The UK joined the European Economic Community in 1973 without a referendum and public vote. In 1975 a referendum was held to determine whether the UK would leave. Remain won by a substantial majority. Forward to 2016 and another referendum was held. Why? Because the EEC, which had become the EU, had become deeply unpopular. Through a series of treaties it had changed from an economic trading block — the European Economic Community — into a political entity, the European Union. To be fair to the EU, this had always been the intention and was clearly stated. The only problem was that the British people had been lied to by its politicians. We were never asked about any of the changes and frustration increased at the anti-democratic nature of the EU and its ability to impose laws upon us, which we did not decide or vote for. There were enormous advantages to being in the EU — not least because of the Single Market, which Margaret Thatcher called Thatcherism in Europe. But there were also great disadvantages. The free movement of ‘labour, capital, goods and services’ was of great benefit to the

2019

wealthy and the corporations — less so to the poor — many of whom saw their living standards reduced. The EU is a technocracy rather than a democracy. It is not, as is often mistakenly assumed, a collective of sovereign national states who co-operate together, but rather a supranational body which requires states to give up much of their sovereignty. National parliaments do not get to vote on EU laws. The EU parliament is the only elected parliament in the world which does not get to propose its own laws. These are proposed by the EU Commission (an unelected body of national commissioners who swear an oath to be loyal to the Commission, not their own elected parliaments). The Parliament and the Council of Ministers only have a right of veto and amendment. The trouble is that the Commission are not accountable to any electorate and cannot be removed by the electorate. This is the great democratic deficit of the EU. As Tony Benn argued — if you cannot remove the people who make your laws, you do not live in a democracy. The tension created within the UK was felt particularly within the Conservative party. In the 1970’s that tension was within the Labour party — the majority of whom were opposed to the EEC — seeing it as an anti-democratic corporate entity. But the genius of the EU is that it governs the nations it rules, not directly but through the institutions and systems of those nations. So you will find that politicians, media, academic institutions, the arts and even major charities are funded by the EU. He who pays the piper calls the tune. The Labour party changed its view towards the EU because of two factors — firstly the rise of what are termed the ‘Islington’ or ‘champagne’ socialists — whereby it became much more the party of middle-class liberals concerned for ‘social’ justice rather than economic. Secondly, the trade union leadership were well funded by the EU. The Scottish Nationalists have morphed from the antiEU, anti-UK, pro-Scotland party (which is why they were so successful in the fishing constituencies decimated by the Common Fisheries Policy) in the 1970’s to >>

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

<< being the most pro-EU party in the UK (alongside the Liberal Democrats). The real problem/opportunity for those who wanted to leave the EU was seen to be in the Conservative party. But as it in practice split over Mrs Thacher’s increasing EU skepticism (which resulted in her dismissal) there was a view that the Tories would really do nothing about the EU. In effect, apart from the extreme right (the BNP) and the extreme left (the Communists) there was no political voice for those who wanted the UK to be independent from the EU — until U K I P

to their own country. The people who voted Leave were accused of being ignorant, deceived, lied to (of course those who voted Remain were intelligent enough to see through the lies!). Even the Russians were blamed. We must have another vote, the cry went up. The EU, which has never accepted the result of any referendum which went against its wishes, played hardball and refused to concede anything. The British government, led by Mrs May, has proven to be totally inept in dealing with the EU — signing up to pre-conditions which guaranteed that it would be impossible to get a good deal. After two and a half years of this mess — with wellfinanced Remainers getting increasingly emboldened, and a government led by a those who voted Remain, seeking to negotiate Leave with an intransigent EU — an agreement was finally come to. This was the agreement that was so overwhelmingly defeated in the House of Commons. What happens now? The truth is, nobody really knows. Some think that some form of Mrs May’s deal will get through, others hope (fear?) that there will be a no-deal Brexit, some want what is termed BINO (Brexit in Name Only), and still others hope to reverse the results of the referendum by having another one (although there is no guarantee that the British people would vote any differently). The Free Church does not take a position on Brexit — because the Bible does not and we have no right to speak on behalf of our members when the same political divisions in the culture are reflected in our own views. We can however observe the weakness and lack of leadership amongst our political leaders, and the increasingly bitter divisions within our country. We can cry out for mercy to our sovereign God. A great deal of this argument is about sovereignty. The Christian perspective is that sovereignty does not lie ultimately with Brussels, or Westminster, or Holyrood, or even the people. Only God is sovereign — and only he can, in his mercy, save us from ourselves. May it be that our churches and people regularly intercede before the throne of grace. This prayer from the Book of Common Prayer is apposite: Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech You that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Your favour and glad to do Your will. Bless our land with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought here out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in Your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to Your law, we may show forth Your praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in You to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. •

(the United K i n g d o m Independence Party) and Nigel Farage came along. Although in the 2015 election they only got one seat (because of the first-pastthe-post system), they received 3.9 million votes. This was enormously damaging to the Tories, whose leader, David Cameron, promised to have an EU referendum in order to deal with UKIP. The Houses of Parliament voted by a large majority to have an in/out referendum which we were solemnly promised would be a once-in-a-lifetime vote, and would be acted upon. No-one expected Leave to win. All of the major political parties, the majority of the media (with notable exceptions in the print media), the CBI, the Trade Unions, the arts, academic and church establishments (almost every Church of England bishop and the Church of Scotland General Assembly made it clear that God was pro-EU!) were opposed. And then the unthinkable happened. The British people voted to Leave the EU. 16.1 million voted to Remain; 17.4 to Leave. It was a seismic shock to the whole political system. The Establishment struggled to cope. Most politicians said ‘we respect the result’. At the 2016 General Election over 80% of the votes went to parties who promised in their manifestos to enact the result of the Referendum and take the UK out of the EU, including the Single Market and Customs Union. But the process had already begun to reverse the decision. As a result the divisions in the country only deepened. Voting for Brexit was deemed to be dumb populism — equivalent to voting for Donald Trump or fascism. On the other hand those who voted Remain were accused of being traitors

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY

DEVOTIONAL: THE INSPIRATION OF FAITH BY REV. DONNIE G. MACDONALD

’m not one to complain but… Wouldn’t life be considerably easier if we could remove ‘everything’ from the Bible. The Apostle tells us that we are to “do everything without grumbling” (Phil 2:14, NIV) Clearly he doesn’t have a clue what our lives are like, obviously he never had a proper job, never had to get the kids to school or do the shopping, never attended church committee meetings, never lived through Brexit and never experienced the Scottish weather. Everything? Really? Surely ‘something’ would have sufficed? “Do something without grumbling” sounds much better, more manageable. And if that were not enough, we are then told, “in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thess 5:13, NIV). There it is again, that ‘everything’ word. It needs a bit of a reality check. Yes, there are lots of things to give thanks for, we are blessed with food, clothes, a roof over our heads, loved ones, and so on. Of course it is God’s will that we give thanks for his good gifts. But give thanks for my rubbish day at work? Thanks for my ailing health? Thanks for my family worries? Thanks for my financial concerns? Thanks for a strained relationship? Thanks for that thorn in the flesh? Thanks for it all going wrong, again. I don’t think so. If we are to take this seriously, we are not only prohibited from ever having a good grumble, we are expected to always give thanks, no matter what is going on in our lives. Impossible. Who would ever be like that? Who could ever live like that? Well, there was one man — Jesus. And in his life, the absence of grumbling, and the continual presence of praise, made him beautiful. He came with a job to do, it wasn’t the easiest of jobs, but he did it without complaining. He worked in pretty horrendous conditions, with ever increasing demands, surrounded by flawed friends and fierce enemies who would falsely accuse and brutally kill. At times it looked, and felt, like everything was going wrong, falling apart, and yet, “he opened not his mouth”. Extraordinary. In everything he gave thanks. He gave thanks before eating food (John 6:11). He gave thanks that the

Father listened to his prayers (John 11:41). He gave thanks for the changed lives of his friends (Matthew 11:25). But most amazingly, he, ‘on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body which is for you”’. (I Cor 11:24, NIV) By taking, and by breaking the bread, he vividly portrayed both the incarnation and the crucifixion. As he snapped that unleavened wafer in two, both sight and sound symbolised the suffering he was about to endure, but still he gave thanks. But then Jesus knew something; he knew that there was a perfect plan, with a loving purpose. He knew that all things were working together to fulfil that plan and reveal that purpose, even the bad things, even the black things. With such knowledge grumbling would be misplaced and giving thanks becomes the most natural thing in the world. As the children of God, we too know that our Father in heaven has a perfect plan that is being unfolded with loving purpose. The very testimony of the cross is that out of the blackness our God brings blessing. So even in the difficult days, and there can be quite a few, we don’t need to grumble to him or about him, but we do need to cast all our cares upon him. And in the darkest moments, by faith we remind ourselves that all things are working together for our good and God’s glory, so that in everything we have reason to give thanks to our all-wise, ever-loving, sovereign God. Bless the Lord O my soul. • Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19-20, NIV)

QUOTATIONS J.J. PACKER

“

Guidance, like all God's acts of blessing under the covenant of grace, is a sovereign act. Not merely does God will to guide us in the sense of showing us his way, that we may tread it; he wills also to guide us in the more fundamental sense of ensuring that, whatever happens, whatever mistakes we may make, we shall come safely home. Slippings and strayings there will be, no doubt, but the everlasting arms are beneath us; we shall be caught, rescued, restored. This is God's promise; this is how good he is.

2019

”

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

FREE CHURCH NEWS DUNBLANE OUTREACH

real meaning of Christmas, from Matthew’s Gospel. In addition to the craft activities, complimentary refreshments for youngsters and parents to enjoy all made for a splendid outreach occasion for our church – serving the people of Dunblane in the very heart of the community.’ The event was appreciated by mums and dads who were able to have a quiet seat and a chance to chat with friends. As one parent said, showing her appreciation, ‘It’s nice and warm and welcoming in here – the kids love it .... and we all get a cuppa and nice eats to enjoy too.’ •

n thursday 29th november 2018,

as part of the Dunblane Extravaganza evening, a fun preChristmas celebration in the Cathedral City, Dunblane Free Church opened their doors to children and their parents to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas through a ‘Crafts for Kids’ event. The outreach event was led once again by elder Ally Lunan and his team of willing helpers from the congregation. The team were particularly encouraged this year by friends from other congregations in the Glasgow Presbytery who came along and helped look after some of the craft workstations. Former Dunblane interim moderator Rev. Iain Mcdonald from Cumbernauld attended the event with Rev. Andy Longwe and their church worker, Megan Gray. Dr David Ford and his wife Mariana from the Bishopbriggs congregation were also in attendance to support the event. It was a great example of congregations from Glasgow Presbytery working together and encouraging one another. Dunblane elder Innes MacLeod said, ‘Sharing the good news of the birth of Christ through the medium of crafts and making articles showing different aspects of the Christmas story – we were delighted to see some 80 to 100 young people, and we think about 50 - 60 parents, having a great time creating their very own pieces of Christmas crafts. Every youngster was able to take home their craft pieces and an SU booklet for children explaining the

The local Boys Brigade Anchor group looking crafty!

DUNBLANE NEW DEACON

r gavin miller was ordained as a deacon in dunblane free church on 6th january 2019.

Rev. Allan Shearer, interim moderator, led the service, encouraging the congregation to rededicate themselves to the Lord, serving God as he leads in 2019. This addition to the leadership team is a great encouragement to the congregation. •

THE RECORD

Gavin & Helen Miller at his ordination

FEBRUARY

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 23rd Jan 2019 Dear Sir, Thank you for raising the topic of science and faith in the January issue of The Record. I hope this will continue to be explored in subsequent issues with the clarity and reasoned objectivity that has characterised your articles in The Record on other topics. I was encouraged by Christina Nercessian’s article, particularly where she says, ‘When Isaac Newton discovered the law of gravity, he did not say, “Great, now that we can explain gravity, we no longer need God.” He marvelled at how amazing God was to have created it.’ This points us in the right direction for understanding God’s relationship with the universe he created. If only the church would apply this thinking to the idea that life has evolved. In many conservative churches that is never allowed to be heard. Reformed thinkers, with perhaps a greater confidence in the Bible, were more open to thinking about scientific developments. B. B. Warfield was a notable defender of the authority of Scripture who was happy to consider the evidence for a great age for the universe and for the idea that life had evolved. Recently I’ve seen a shift in Free Church attitudes to this topic. A fearfulness to face the evidence and an unwillingness to hear any reasoned arguments, biblical and scientific, that challenge their received traditional interpretations of Genesis has crept in and seems to dominate, even to the point of suppressing views that have been supported by Reformed biblical scholars for more than a century. It is simply assumed that evolution is atheistic. The only option, therefore, is to attack the Theory of Evolution with a modicum of reason and evidence and a good deal of specious argument. This is dangerous for a number of reasons including the following. Truth matters. All truth is God’s truth. John Calvin said, ‘If we regard the Spirit of God as the sole fountain of truth, we shall neither reject the truth itself, nor despise it wherever it should appear, unless we wish to dishonour the Spirit of God.’ -John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 2. God speaks to us through creation and through the Word. Understanding that Word is not always easy. Our thinking is always coloured by our existing incomplete understanding. We must be ruthless in searching out and correcting misunderstandings that distort our reading of the Bible. Our personal prejudice may undermine the faith of believers. Tying the integrity of Scripture to our traditions of interpretation is dangerous. The Word of God should sift human traditions rather than being read through the lens of these traditions. Belief in the perspicuity of the Scriptures is not the same as belief in the infallibility of our own interpretations. Our personal prejudice may be a barrier to evangelism. Making ourselves look silly is not to be encouraged but making our God look silly is much more serious. We have a pastoral responsibility towards confused Christians and confused atheists. We should work to let the light of the Word dispel any darkness that causes pain and loss. We should not confuse the atheistic ideological misuse of science with the scientific evidence for evolving life over a great age. Wilful ignorance is dangerous. Failure to face up to perceived problems will come back to bite us. Being content to live in an apparently secure bubble of shared beliefs, and refusing to engage with even Scriptural arguments that might threaten this bubble, puts human traditions of interpretation above the Word itself. We need to go beyond the unreasoned assertion that the Bible and evolution are opposed to each other. We need a frank and open discussion on the biblical evidence. Sincerely Alan J F Fraser

We would love to hear from you…please write the editor at: The Record, St Peters Free Church, 4 St Peter St. Dundee. DD1 4JJ or e-mail drobertson@freechurch.org

2019

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

CHURCH PLANTING IN GLASGOW An interview with Rev. Jonathan de Groot about the challenges and joys of getting a church plant up and running.

n early 2018 rev. jonathan de groot began to form a

What challenges have you faced over the past year? The biggest challenges have related to perceptions, premises and people. While church planting is biblical, the perceptions of what we are doing, why we are doing it and where we are doing it have needed constant communication to allay misunderstanding and suspicion. We have found searching for premises very hard work. Church planting is not about the building where you meet, but finding a suitable venue and strategic location is a challenge. As we are still small, losing people is a big challenge. We are very sad to be saying goodbye to a great family who’ve been with us since the beginning, due to work. How do you see the church growing and developing over the next five years? We still talk about being in the pre-launch phase. At the moment we are aiming to grow our Christian core group to a critical mass before launching. This time gives us the opportunity to work on shaping our worship services as well as develop a culture of being a church not just for ourselves but for those who wouldn’t normally go to church. Ultimately, we want the church to grow through conversions since there is no point planting a new church if we are not reaching new people for Christ. As we currently get some support from our North American partner churches, we want to reach sustainability before

core team to plant a new reformed and contemporary

church in the north-west of glasgow. As with most church plants, Jonathan and the team had to start from scratch but they were confident that God had led them to reach out to their local community with the Gospel. Now one year on, Jonathan shares some of his personal experiences so far as well as some of his hopes for the future.

Starting a new church from scratch can be extremely difficult — how have you and your team fared over the past year on a personal level? We are in a very different place to where we were exactly one year ago. Then, we had only shared the vision for the church and were gathering the core team together. We are grateful to God for the many ways he has guided us and provided for us. We have needed to depend on him, conscious that while we have a plan, it is God’s work and not ours and only he can make things grow. How has God enabled the core team and the church to move forward? Our core team has grown slowly as people have heard about the vision and wanted to be part of it. We have been encouraged by the people God has brought to us. As a family, we moved home last February and started meeting midweek from March. Sunday worship began in our conservatory in May. We then began meeting in a school lecture theatre from September. In December we moved into a church café area, where we are currently meeting. Each stage has seen steady growth as we work towards launching, God willing, at Easter 2019. Christ Church Glasgow receives support in different ways from several church-planting organisations including Generation, in what way have these networks helped you? We have been very grateful for the support we have received. Generation has provided church planting training through the church planting incubator. A group meets every m onth to work through a course on church planting principles and practices. As well as the stimulation the reading provides, the opportunity for peer support, coaching and prayer have been vital. This, combined with the partnership we enjoy with Hope Free Church, Coatbridge, gives good fellowship and accountability. The wider networks we’re part of are a great reminder that whilst there is a great spiritual need in our own nation, we are part of the unstoppable mission of Jesus Christ, as he builds his church across the globe.

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY

too long. Somewhere in the process we will need a suitable permanent venue in northwest Glasgow. We also see the need to work on developing leaders who share the same DNA so that, in time, we can resource other church plants across Glasgow.

venue on a trial basis, we are still considering other possibilities (including a football stadium!) •• Pray for faithfulness in our evangelism. We can’t neglect this as it is the foundation for everything else we do right now and in the future. We are aware that we need to keep sharing the good news about Jesus within our relationship networks (friends, colleagues, neighbours, family). •• Pray also for fruitfulness in all our work for the Lord. We want to see new believers and the church grow through conversions. We want to be disciple-making disciples who will be part of churches that plant churches. •

How can the wider church pray for you and the team at Christ Church Glasgow? •• Pray for the growth of our core team. We still seek more Christians who will be committed to the vision of planting a church to reach new people. •• Pray for wisdom in deciding on the most strategic location. While we’re grateful to have our current

TESTIMONY: CHRISTINA NERCESSIAN Christina Nercessian wrote an article for the January Record. We asked her to tell us a little more about herself. The Free Church may not be a home for Arminians but we certainly welcome Armenians!

him known’ (Psalm 19:1-2). My love for learning more about the connection between God and science is no longer an attempt to reaffirm my faith, but simply an adventure of slowly unravelling the mysteries that God has placed in this universe for our very own delight. Sometimes I simply cannot wait to discover all that I will know and be able to see and understand once I am no longer bound by time and space! But for now, I am an English and Communications major, living in my homeland of Armenia, hoping to have a career in writing for children or teaching languages or travelling as a storyteller after I graduate – or simply saying, ‘I will cross that bridge when I get there!’ •

decided to invite jesus to live in my heart when i was six years old.

It was as simple as me loving the Good Shepherd I heard about at Sunday School or read about in my Children’s Bible. I walked up to my mom one day and told her about my decision. We prayed together and that was it. After that, my friendship with God grew more and more intimate; I confided in him, listened to his voice, let him hug me even when I was wrong, and spent even my idle days with him. It was during my first university years that doubts began to creep into my mind. Too many of my professors were talking about how irrational it is to believe in God and how science disproves his existence, etc. Although I was resisting those ideas out of pure loyalty for my long-held beliefs, I didn’t realise how or when I started to actually question whether they were right and whether my relationship with God and everything I had gone through with him had been a product of my imagination. After all, I had always been prone to creating imaginary friends as a child… For the first time I felt the need to have evidence outside of myself and asked God that if he was real, he would show it to me through science. I didn’t realise it at first, but that prayer became the start of a marvellous journey of reading books, watching documentaries and lectures, and meeting people that not only proved to me that God exists, but made me simply astonished at the work of his hands. I realized that the claims of scientists are not always that of science and that science, whether we zoom in to our DNA or zoom out to our universe, points to its Creator. I began to understand what David meant when he wrote, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make

2019

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

ETS NEWS BY REV. THOMAS DAVIS

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD. As we enter into 2019, we asked ETS Principal Iver Martin to share his reflections on 2018 and to tell us about what lies ahead at the Seminary in the coming year.

It has been a very We have continued to have good numbers of students, both at BTh and MTh level. It has also been great to see large numbers participating in the Saturday Course, the Access to Theology Course and the Sabbatical Studies programme. Furthermore, it has been wonderful to see students graduating and moving into ministry work across the country and beyond; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our great goal, to equip men and women to go out and serve the church. So looking back, we are thankful to God for all that he has helped us achieve. ooking

back

over

2018,

Last year was also an encouraging year in terms of our ongoing connections with the wider church, both nationally and globally. In particular, both Alastair Wilson and I had the opportunity to present papers at the Evangelical Theological Society conference in Denver, Colorado. This was a great privilege for us and it continues to help raise the profile of the Seminary. In terms of the year ahead, in many ways we are hoping for more of the same. It is important to remain consistent, and we want to keep doing what we are doing to the best of our ability. Our main task is always to provide theological education for those who want to learn more about the Bible at an academic level and who are seeking training and equipping for a life sharing the gospel and ministering to the church. But while we want to remain consistent, we also want to get better at what we do. There is currently a Quinquennial review of ETS. This has been undertaken by a small committee appointed by the General Assembly whose task is to carry out a thorough review of ETS and its role as a training provider for the church. The committee is chaired by Rev. Ivor Macdonald, minister at Hope Church Coatbridge and Vice-Chair of the Board of Ministry. It has been helpful to meet with this committee and to have the opportunity to look at what we do and see how we can do it better. I hope that this Quinquennial review will identify areas where we can improve. We also want to emphasise that we are fully accountable to the Free Church and we want to listen to and learn from recommendations that will make for a better training centre.

encouraging year for ets.

...it is a little concerning that applications for Free Church ministry are low. I am not sure why that is. But there are also challenges. Although on the one hand we are thankful to be training people to serve in the wider church, on the other hand, it is a little concerning that applications for Free Church ministry are low. I am not sure why that is. It could of course be that God is not calling men at this time. But I sometimes worry that young men in particular may be intimidated or fearful at the prospect of entering the ministry. Perhaps there is a sense of pressure to succeed or a greater awareness that many ministries are fragile and the road ahead may be hard. I am not sure, but I would want to urge our younger men to think seriously about whether God may be calling them into ministry. At the same time it is important that we all keep praying that God would raise up workers for the harvest field. I would also like to say that even though ministry brings challenges, for me personally it has been the most wonderful experience. It has been a huge privilege to take the journey into ministry, and I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be doing anything else. Right now the Free Church is deeply committed to mission work, which means that there are lots of exciting opportunities for people who may be sensing a call to ministry.

THE RECORD

But while we want to remain consistent, we also want to get better at what we do. The Centre for Mission is now up and running and it has been great to see courses being introduced, ranging from local church training all the way through to the Masters in Missiology which began in September. But there is still a long way to go before the Centre for Mission reaches its full potential. The

FEBRUARY

Centre is an excellent resource for the church and gives us an important platform for developing more and more training opportunities. In the coming year, we want to continue to build up closer relations with local congregations, with Generation, with missionary partners and with the wider church In terms of staffing, we are currently looking towards appointing a new course organiser for the Church History Department. Prof John McIntosh recently retired after many years of excellent service to the Seminary, for which we are very thankful. In the months to come we are excited to be in the position of working towards appointing someone to fulfil this role. `Looking ahead, it is becoming clear that there needs to be a greater emphasis on part-time training. The part-time model has the advantage of providing students with hands-on experience in an active congregation alongside their study. This gives students going into ministry a broader preparation and will help them to apply what they learn at ETS into real-life settings. It also recognises the fact that that alongside the Seminary, the local church has a key role in training. Over the coming years, the church is looking at adopting this model for more students. Of course, this means that training can take

longer and cost more, but if in the long run it will help produce students who are better prepared, then it can only be a good thing. Above all, in the year ahead we want to ensure that we keep our eyes on Jesus. Our great passion is that our work at ETS will help equip people so that his message of good news can spread more and more. • PRAYER POINTS: •• Please continue to pray for our students and their families as they work hard through the remainder of their courses. •• Pray also for more students, especially for more ministry candidates. There is an urgent need in Scotland for well-educated pastors who can teach and equip people to serve Jesus. Our vision is to try and provide that education. •• Pray for our staff, both full-time and part-time, teaching and administrative. Pray too for the appointment of Church History Course Organiser, that God would lead us to the right person for this role. •• Give thanks for the improved health of Prof John McIntosh, who recently took ill while on holiday in Australia. •• Pray for Prof Donald Macleod, who has been diagnosed with serious health issues.

WESTERN ISLES PRESBYTERY: YOUTH DISCIPLESHIP SUPPORTWORKER Closing date for applications: Friday 15th March This new role offers a highly enthusiastic and passionate youth worker the opportunity to be actively engaged in youth discipleship. The successful applicant will work with the youth committee of the Western Isles Presbytery to develop youth discipleship in congregations. They will work with existing youth leaders and Kirk Sessions to provide opportunities for young people to grow a resilient Christian faith. The role requires the post holder to demonstrate a clear Christian commitment and sympathy to the ethos and vision of the Free Church of Scotland. Therefore it is an occupational requirement for the post holder to be a Christian. Any enquiries, or for informal discussion, please contact Rev David Macleod on 07920 844260 or email david.macleod@me.com. 3 year fixed term contract (Initial 6 month probation period) Full-Time: 37 hrs p/w Salary: £20,000 plus expenses An application pack can be requested from: stuking@hotmail.com To apply send completed application form with covering letter to stuking@hotmail.com About the Free Church The Free Church of Scotland is committed to the proclamation and furtherance of the Christian faith in the nation of Scotland and beyond. We believe that faith in the person and works of our Lord Jesus Christ is humanity’s greatest need, since it is only by His perfect sinless life, sacrificial death on a cross, and bodily resurrection from the dead that we can be reconciled to God and granted eternal life. Safeguarding The Free Church of Scotland has a Christian care for the welfare of each individual and seeks to make the Church a safe place for all. In particular, the Church seeks to protect and safeguard all those who are especially vulnerable, both children and vulnerable adults, with whom it comes into contact through its activities and services. Scottish Charity — Registration Number SC047062

2019

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

ANDY HUNTER (FIEC) reports on a recent conference in Edinburgh that highlighted a few key issues that are effecting the state of our churches in Scotland today.

across those constituencies). Thus there were leaders from more conservative groupings along with those from Charismatic and more open evangelical circles. While some might be uneasy at the very notion of this, it is to the credit of Transforming Scotland that they have this heart and are able to bring together leaders who may otherwise have very little contact or knowledge of each other. The closing section of the gathering was given over to discussion around tables — both to chat about the implications of Dr Keller’s analysis and also how Scottish churches might be more collegiate in meeting the challenges. The limited time meant that any conclusions were roughly formed and sometimes lacked the benefit of a fuller explanation.

ver 100 church and ministry leaders attended the latest ‘transforming scotland’ gathering

in edinburgh. The big draw on this occasion was the presence of Tim Keller — whose analysis of the cultural and spiritual challenges facing the contemporary church is always worth hearing. Dr Keller did not disappoint as he expertly described the huge shifts that have turned Christianity from being the definer of Western culture into now being its very antithesis in many areas. Thus Christianity has to contend with a domineering worldview that sees the very ideas of divine authority, redemption, and selfsacrifice as fundamentally oppressive.

THINKING HARD ABOUT THE FUTURE Regarding where this clash of worldviews would lead, Dr Keller was reluctant to predict but outlined some key areas the church needs to think hard about. This included:

REFLECTIONS However, with the benefit of more time to consider the event and its call for those present to seek greater unity, here are some further reflections… Scottish Tribalism: Dr Keller highlighted what he perceived to be a high level of tribalism among Scottish Christians. Bearing in mind his wide-ranging global experience, that is an observation we need to take seriously. At some levels there has been a lessening of congregational tribalism — for example, the Regional Gospel Partnerships established in recent years have brought together leaders from a range of denominational and non-denominational churches. Likewise CLAN (Churches Linked Across the Nation) has brought together people from different churches. However, the churches being brought together in both these examples are typically of ‘a type’ — sharing a similar ecclesiastical personality and theological flavour. Thus ‘tribalism’ (where it exists) tends to be between these groupings rather than individual churches. Loving our Neighbours: Among those tribes there are some significant issues of difference — not least the emphasis given to certain aspects of the Gospel. Additionally there are some real practical obstacles to joint fellowship (let’s be real). These mean that partnerships are not always going to be straightforward or even feasible at times — that is a shame, but it should not be an excuse for never doing anything or indeed for a lack of love and respect. As someone has said, ‘We may not be able to live in the same house but we can be good neighbours.’

(1) Discipling people in a digital age, both in terms of the overwhelming input of non-Christian views people now receive, but also in overcoming the corrosive effects of social media in diminishing empathy and in relentlessly promoting self. (2) How we effectively share the Gospel with a generation who increasingly have no concept of or agreement with the biblical presentation of God and sin. (3) The extent to which Western governments might seek to penalise Bible-believing Christians. However, the gathering was more than a lecture; its intention was that leaders from across Scotland would be able to consider these challenges together and to think collectively about how they might be met. It’s a vision enabled by the generosity of the Maclellan Foundation and its wider work supporting Gospel work in Scotland. Among other things it funded Barna research in 2015, a helpful survey of current attitudes to Christianity and the state of the Scottish church. A RARE GATHERING The Transforming Scotland gatherings are in themselves rare occasions — pulling together leaders from a wide range of evangelical constituencies along with para-church representatives (who often work

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY

All Shapes & Sizes: Integrity means each will rightly hold onto their convictions, and if we value the pursuit of biblical truth we can’t simply homogenise and give up those beliefs. However, humility equally accepts that no church grouping is without error and blind spots. No one church grouping is going to reach Scotland on its own — we need, to borrow the Dunkirk analogy, ships and boats of all shapes and sizes for this rescue mission. As Dr Keller noted, God in his wisdom has used a surprising array of Christians and churches to extend his Kingdom over the centuries — and praise be to him that he does. •

In this regard the work of Transforming Scotland and Maclellan is to be welcomed — if nothing else it brings the ‘neighbours’ together and in doing so helps break down points of unnecessary suspicion and division. Speaking Well of Each Other: Bringing people together and putting a human face on differences is almost always a helpful thing. It means that, having met others personally, we are less likely to be dismissive or unkind about them elsewhere. So even where significant differences exist, and formal or structural partnerships are not possible, we can at least ‘speak well of each other’. We ought to be cheerleaders for the growth of the Gospel anywhere (Paul was prepared to give thanks for Gospel work even when it was fuelled by low motives, Php. 1:15-17). Evangelical Christians in Scotland are a tiny minority and we must resist the temptation to become more obsessed about our factional interests than the cause of Christ across the nation. So wherever in Scotland we see Christ being preached and people coming to saving faith we should bless it. Brothers not Brands: One practical outworking of loving each other is to resist competitiveness. This can work in two ways: firstly, we must avoid a ‘brand-building’ mentality. That is, seeking to expand our church networks or planting regardless of the gospel work of others. We see this in some of our cities — new churches being planted in areas already (relatively) well-served by Bible-believing churches when other, much more gospel-needy areas are bypassed. Conversely, we must avoid insecure or jealous reactions to the planting of new churches. In a time of such overwhelming gospel need our first reaction should be to give thanks for the good efforts of others.

Before joining FIEC in November 2013, Andy Hunter worked for Greenview Church in Glasgow for nine years, prior to which he trained at Oak Hill College in London. He is married to Jessica and they have three children.

Mark Stirling (L) and Tim Keller(R) in discussion

THE LATE REV. DONALD McCLURE (1932-2018) BY REV. J.C. WHYTOCK & REV. W. UNDERHAY

where they had latterly moved to be with family. His funeral was held at the United Reformed Church in Woodstock, Ontario, where Donald had latterly attended. Upon retiring from Thunder Bay he and Shirley returned to Chesley and were very involved in family care and also in the Chesley Agricultural Society, the Bruce County Historical Society, and helping consult with folks on the history of Bruce, most recently as a referent for a new book of an artist from Bruce County. They were involved in the Presbyterian Reformed congregation in Chesley prior to moving to Woodstock. Donald will be remembered as a man of strong Christian convictions and one who lived by the standards of the faith. •

ome of the readers of the record will have memories

the

free

church

scotland

(formerly called Here the late Rev. Donald Douglas McClure spent many years of his life as a Free Church minister and also for some years as a teacher at McKellar Park School. Donald was born near Chesley, Ontario in Bruce County to Jim and Donalda McClure and was one of nine children. His wife Shirley survives him, as do his children Donna, Ian, Lois Ann, and Catherine and their families. He was predeceased by son Andrew. He graduated from the teacher’s Normal School in North Bay, Ontario; Waterloo Lutheran University, Waterloo with his BA; and Westminster Theological Seminary with his BD in 1968. He was ordained into the Free Church of Scotland ministry in 1970. Donald attended his 50th anniversary class reunion at Westminster Theological Seminary in the spring of 2018. He took a stroke in September 2018 and passed away in Woodstock, Ontario on November 17th, 2018 congregation in thunder bay

fort

2019

william),

ontario.

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

YUVAL NOAH HARARI’S ‘SAPIENS’ AND ‘HOMO DEUS’ – A DEPRESSING VIEW OF OUR HUMANITY BY SARAH ALLEN

t a new year’s eve party a friend told me that i

Enlightenment, writers weren’t interested in feelings — what of Sophocles or Shakespeare or Chaucer? Whilst cultural shifts in attitude did happen at these times which changed western ways of thinking significantly, Harari is laughably wrong to think in such black and white categories; history is being warped to suit his big ideas. And what are his big ideas? Well, they are nothing particularly new (if you have studied humanities or social science in the last thirty years, you’ll think this old hat), but perhaps expressed in a more daring and accessible form than before. Harari’s confidence in atheistic evolution leads him to conclude that we are no different from any other animal. No God, no soul, the material is all. But at the same time, he identifies in us a capacity which sets us apart from other lifeforms, saying ‘sapiens could invent socio-political codes that went far beyond the dictates of our DNA and the behaviour patterns of other human and animal species’. Ironically, he is saying that it is our very capacity to think beyond the material that sets us apart. The use of language, money, law, nationhood and religion are all examples of these codes, and for Harari they are all convenient fictions. Although convenient, Harari doesn’t find these myths benign. They allow humans to progress and cooperate, he says, but they often result in oppression and exploitation. He picks apart capitalism and Babylonian law, nationalism and individualism (amongst other -isms) deftly, and his observations are at times spot on. The American Declaration of Independence, which states, ‘we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal’, rests upon a Christian framework which he finds redundant, truthfully acknowledging, ‘there are no such things as rights in biology’ (123). Humanism is just another myth, he suggests, a type of religion, and so he concludes that his beloved liberalism rests on a lie. Tellingly, he admits: ‘There is no way out of the imagined order. When we break down our prison walls and run towards freedom, we are in fact running into the more spacious yard of a bigger prison.’ And yet, Harari cannot follow this nihilism through. He expresses sympathy for human suffering (and even more for animal suffering) and wants to expose untruth, but if meaning is all fabrication, why bother?

should read sapiens.

It explains loads of things, he said, describing how Islamic fundamentalism just comes out of the need for a big story, and implying that he thought it explained away my faith, too. Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari, an Israeli historian, and its sequel, Homo Deus, have sold well and spread widely. Published in 2014 and 2016 respectively, at the time of writing they are still at numbers 2 and 6 of Waterstone’s non-fiction bestsellers chart, and, despite their doorstop size (each just under 500 pages), both have been commended by plenty of famous names, from Barack Obama to Chris Evans. These are popular books which make provocative and significant claims about what it is to be human and how the world works. Christians, take note. Subtitled ‘A Brief History of Humankind’, Sapiens takes the reader on a breakneck tour of human development, starting at pre-history and ending today. His writing is as conversational and expansive as his subject, full of opinion and engaging, detailed stories as well as a few facts. Like many other historians Harari identifies key leaps in progress which changed the course of human history: the movement of early man out of Africa; the discovery of fire; the beginnings of agriculture; the development of written language. As an atheist he has no sense of why these changes happened. Big leaps just happen, he seems to say. Discoveries are made, new skills learned. But if the why is absent, the how at times is tendentious. Claiming that ‘wheat domesticated us’ as he describes the birth of agriculture, Harari presents an idyllic foraging lifestyle disrupted by the burden of production. But this gloomy depiction is of a precarious monoculture, a society depending just on wheat and hard work. But was that the way farming emerged — was there not a variety of crops and hunting practiced alongside? And how does he know what life really was like for hunter-gatherers anyway? Perhaps he is guilty of anthropological romanticism here, as scant archaeological evidence is used to prop up a belief that the primitive is somehow purer than the developed. Worse still is his strange claim that prior to about the fourteenth century AD people didn’t look for knowledge for its own sake — what about Pliny or Archimedes or Galen? Or again, that prior to the

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY JANUARY

©HQUALITY — stock.adobe.com

Homo Deus, subtitled A Brief History of Tomorrow, repeats many of the ideas in Sapiens and then uses them to predict the future. Picking up his argument that ‘human behaviour is determined by hormones, genes and synapses rather than free will’ (p263 Sapiens) he neatly and controversially summarises it — we are just algorithms, just a set of rules like a computer program. Take a pill that increases serotonin level and you feel happy, stimulate certain areas of the brain and you will be calm. Use an internet search engine and very quickly choices will be presented to you through an algorithim, predicting your preferences and subtly steering you to buy, or believe, or vote. In this way the division in Harari’s world between what is human and what is not begins to look scarily blurred: robotic limbs and brain implants are just the beginning. As technology develops, so ways of improving the human condition grow — we can be mini-gods, happy all the time, near-immortal and very powerful. Life looks as though it is about to get a lot better. But, says Harari, we should be scared of what is round the corner. A tiny elite which controls technology and so enslaves the rest of us? Or a non-human super-brain — the collection of all knowledge, an internet of all things? Common to both of these, and in an echo of his argument in Sapiens, is the absence of free will. Both options sound like science fiction but are more technologically possible than we realise. Having depicted these dystopias and argued for a reductive, determinist vision of life, Harari’s ending is abrupt and unexpected. He asks us to decide the questions: What is life? What is valuable? What is going to happen to society? Amazingly (and illogically?), he encourages us to opt out of his conclusions, and choose a different future. Depressing though these books often are, they do present a great opportunity for debate. Harari asks at the end of Sapiens (p466), speaking of humanity, ‘Is there anything more dangerous than dissatisfied and irresponsible gods who don’t know what they want?’ When we make ourselves gods, as happened in Eden, framing for ourselves what is truth and goodness, danger ensues. Christians know that already. Harari’s rejection of meaning offers no hope for this chaos, but unintentionally points us in the right direction. We humans desperately need meaning because we are cooperating and communicating persons made in the image of the personal three-in-one God. We need to know that our values of love and justice and our feelings of pain and compassion are not part of a lifeless algorithm, or a convenient myth, but have significance beyond our brain chemistry. We need a story, not a fabricated one, but a history, a true story, to make sense of our lives. And wonderfully, the gospel gives us a story that spans past and future as it takes us to the true sapiens, the true homo deus, Christ. • This article was first published in Evangelicals Now and on the Solas website — https://www.solas-cpc.org/yuvalnoah-hararis-sapiens-and-homo-deus-a-depressingview-of-our-humanity-review-by-sarah-allen/

2019

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

THE

GOSPEL FOR TODAY’S SOCIETY ECCLESIASTES 5:1-7

©ZoneCreative S.r.l. - stock.adobe.com

TRUE WORSHIP THE RECORD

FEBRUARY JANUARY

that

face

life

today ,

including

the

meaninglessness of it all , and he has shown

that all of our solutions don ’ t bring real meaning .

He had visited the courtroom, the marketplace, the travellers’ way and the palace. Now he comes to the temple, but instead of simply saying ‘God is the answer’ he notes that worship is often meaningless. He observes the religious and notices that for all their religious ritual, sacrifices and vows it did not appear to make any real difference. Their acts of worship were insincere and hypocritical. I wonder if that is not the major problem in today’s church as well? We are to guard our steps in the house of God, which means ‘watch how we worship’. We are not used to this at all. The common view is that, as long as we are worshipping God, what does it matter how we worship? We tend to think of worship as a matter of taste, style and culture. But the Bible regards it as the most important thing we can do and is far more concerned about what God thinks of our worship than what we think!

Fools don’t listen — Here there is hastiness in prayer. Is prayer ever a bad thing? ‘When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong’ (Isaiah 1:15-16, NIV). Yes – when we do not consider who we are praying to. Just as a human has dreams (sleepless nights) when they have many responsibilities — so these responsibilities may also lead to careless words. Not just in prayer but in promises — to God. The dreaming refers to daydreaming, casualness, thoughtlessness in approaching God. So how do we worship God? How do we approach God?

1) THE WORSHIP OF FOOLS Fools rush in — Solomon speaks of those who rush into the house of God. The whole structure and architecture of the temple spoke of God’s inaccessibility except by sacrifice. They forget that ‘God is in heaven’ — that he is glorious and that there is a vast difference between him and human beings. A casual approach to God, whilst it may have the appearance of worship, in fact does a great deal of harm. People are called fools not because they are deliberately coming and doing something wicked

2) TRUE WORSHIP In John 4:23 Jesus tells us what true worship is. God is spirit and he seeks those who will worship him in spirit and in truth. This includes heartfelt sincerity but it also includes being thoughtful and attentive. True worshippers use their minds — What we think about God will determine how we worship him. This is what the fear of God means. It is also a theme that runs through the book. ‘So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind’ (1 Corinthians 14:15, NIV). True worshippers listen to God — We must be prepared to listen to the Word of God. How are you going to know how or who to worship? Through the Word. ‘But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams”’ (1 Samuel 15:22, NIV). Our attitude must be ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ Not ‘Listen, Lord, for your servant is speaking!’ I’ll hear what God the Lord will speak. We are to pray. It does not mean that we are not to pray long prayers – but we are not to do so for a show nor because we think that the longer we pray the more God is likely to reward us. ‘And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words’ (Matthew 6:7, NIV). We are to take prayer seriously. We are to ask the Lord — ‘teach us to pray’. We need >>

2019

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

©ZoneCreative S.r.l. — stock.adobe.com

but because they think they are doing good — they are well-meaning. But that is not good enough. ‘These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men’ (Matthew 15:8-9, NIV). ‘The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him’ (Proverbs 15:8, NIV).

olomon has identified many of the problems

<< more collective and thoughtful prayer. We are to pray from the heart. The author of Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan, wrote: ‘In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.’ We are to make vows — sometimes they were made in desperation, sometimes for great need. ‘If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth’ (Deuteronomy 23:21-23, NIV). When we respond to the Word of God we are making vows. We are to do so thoughtfully, carefully, wholeheartedly. And we must fulfill them — do you have unfulfilled vows? We are to take them as seriously as we do our marriage vows. ‘Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfil them; let all the neighbouring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared’ (Psalm 76:11, NIV). ‘Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God’ (Acts 5:4, NIV). How much of our worship is a lie to God? And we are not to think that our worship consists just of words. Can you think of any vows you have made? Have you promised to love God? Committed your life to him? O Lord, if only you grant this, then I will do that. And then you have not done it. And we wonder why there is so little blessing on our lives.

worship. He is our Great High Priest, our Mediator, our Sacrifice, our Hope, our Joy, our Peace, our Saviour. Listen, listen to Jesus and about Jesus. Everything has to be based on him. Christless worship is godless worship. We are to bring our sacrifices to God — we do not offer animal sacrifices because Jesus is our sacrifice. He is the one who was sacrificed for us. But we are still to bring an offering. Our Bodies and Minds: ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.’ (Romans 12:1-2, NIV) Praise: ‘Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.’ (Hebrews 13:15-16, NIV) Money: ‘I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.’ (Philippians 4:18, NIV)

True Worship is Christ-centred — Christ tells us that the centre of worship is no longer in Jerusalem at the temple. It is now him. Through Jesus we

People won to the Saviour: ‘…to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.’ (Romans 15:16, NIV) A Broken Heart: ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.’ (Psalm 51:17, NIV) Dare we begin there and ask the Lord to break us so that we might truly seek and worship him? Or are we unwilling to move out of our comfort zone? Do we not trust him enough to know that he will forgive because of who he is, not what we have made him to be, or what we have done? It is possible to worship God in this life. It is possible for our worship to be meaningful. It is what God wants — do we? •

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY JANUARY

DEUS VULT, MEDICE CURA A Christian medical approach to transgender ideology and patients. An ANONYMOUS contribution PART III

to this I hardly know where to begin. Just because a patient says he is now a woman, or ‘has always been a woman’, does not invalidate the previous years they existed biologically as a man. Perhaps hugely complex binary hospital registration systems need to change, but that likely error-prone process could take decades. My other huge concern as a physician is in regards to the hormones used in patients who transition. The evidence base for these is minimal, and few GPs have experience – they may be left to their own devices to prescribe and monitor because specialists are few and far between. The male hormone testosterone increases aggression and causes cardiovascular health to deteriorate. The female hormone oestrogen decreases muscle bulk and strength and increases the risk of breast cancer. Six months’ treatment with opposite-sex hormones is enough to cause permanent infertility in men or women.

espite the recent huge media interest in transgender ideology, transgender people comprise only a

tiny proportion of the population. Less than 1% identify as trans/non-binary etc. However, their very loud advocates are pressing for a total re-education of society under the guise of inclusiveness and equality. Nowhere is this more evident than in schools, with lessons geared towards spreading trans ideology, with explicit government support. Individual parents and teachers remain concerned about the impact of this culture upon their children, but due to our current oppressive shame culture find it very difficult to speak out publicly for fear of being targeted and cut down on social media and elsewhere. The number of children referred to gender clinics has shot up, and waiting lists are long. Activists argue that there are no more trans people than there were before, but that with the change in society, more

Why have personal feelings become the authority under which all other considerations, even physical health, become subordinate? feel emboldened to come out of the woodwork. I am concerned that the culture pushes more people to consider transgenderism as a solution to their deepseated psychological issues, whereas in the past they would have considered other avenues. Is a transvestite man now really a woman? After all, only 20% of transgender patients progress to ‘bottom’ surgery, i.e. sex-reassignment surgery. With incoming changes to the law, will there be a lot more ‘women’ with penises in society? It will be against the law to ‘misgender’ them. The problems this leads to with women’s advocate groups, feminists and lesbians have been extensively discussed in the media, for now it seems that a man’s right to self-identify as the opposite sex trumps the rights of all else. Transitioning poses a major safety concern in healthcare, as when these people age they will be missed by sex-specific screening programmes. When one transitions, one becomes a member of the opposite sex. For example, my local hospital laboratory will not examine a blood test for prostate cancer in trans women, despite the fact they have prostates and are just as much at risk as any non-trans man their age! When a patient transitions, their old (male or female) patient number is discarded and they get a new (female or male) one, essentially becoming a completely different person. There are so many problems endemic

2019

When a patient presents with a belief that their arm or leg doesn’t belong to them, or that they identify as a disabled person and therefore need their limbs removed, their doctor quite correctly should identify this as a mental illness and refer for appropriate psychiatric help. Why then, in men who feel they need to remove their penises to make them more like a woman, do we indulge this irrational desire and arrange genital mutilation surgery? Even after surgery, they have not ‘become’ a member of the opposite sex, only a partial simulacrum of one. Even typing that is probably tantamount to hate speech now, but if we are to properly love our patients, should we not try and help them to feel more comfortable in their own bodies rather than mutilating them? Why have personal feelings become the authority under which all other considerations, even physical health, become subordinate? Trans activists rail against the ‘medicalisation’ of trans patients, believing they should be allowed to self-identify without doctor certification. I would agree that we do too much medical treatment, but not enough psychological. I worry that in the days to come, my medical ethics and conscience will be overruled by a dangerous and intolerant ideology. • In my final article I will discuss transgenderism, sexual ethics and children.

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

BY REV. JOHN-EDWARD FUNNELL

RENEWAL IN THE VALLEY N

We asked the people why they thought the church in Wales was dying and why they did not come to Noddfa. There were many reasons given. The majority did not believe in God, others thought they were too bad to come, some worked Sunday shifts and the rest would rather watch the rugby or walk their dog. Most were cynical towards the church as an institution. We listened to what they said and compromised on everything but the Gospel. We changed meeting times and structure and opened the doors throughout the week for the blessed opportunities to welcome the lost in and tell them all about Jesus.

oddfa church is situated in the once industrious eastern valley of south wales in a village called

abersychan. The valley (approx. 10,000 people) suffers with high rates of unemployment, drug abuse and domestic violence and had no gospel minister until God called me into the area five years ago. The valley thought Noddfa was closed and with a small, ageing congregation (in single figures) we had just months to go before our gospel light was extinguished. When my wife (a superwoman!) and four children moved into the area, I remained in secular employment as the church was in no position to support us. We spent the first six months on our knees crying out to God to help us in our weakness and began to take stock of the blessings and opportunities that we did have available. This included a building with a hall that could be offered out to the community, a legacy of once being everyone’s ‘great-grandmother’s church’ and now a pastor on the ground (me). I started with a simple letter of introduction that I posted

We changed meeting times and structure and opened the doors throughout the week for the blessed opportunities to welcome the lost in and tell them all about Jesus.

Aerial view of Noddfa church

We began with a new service on a Sunday afternoon that offered traditional hymns (just like the ones you would sing at the rugby), a short Gospel presentation and a seasonal activity. This became very popular and those who attended began to filter into our traditional services. Other Christians joined us to support the work and many lives were transformed under the teaching of the Gospel. As the congregation grew we utilised the skills and opportunities God was providing us with. We began youth clubs, family playgroups, music tuition and homework clubs. We started collecting for the homeless, victims of

into every home. It stated that I had just moved into the area and was here to serve. This was met positively and gave me the opportunity to engage and (most importantly) listen to the people God had called me to. As a family we made a point of shopping locally, we ate in the local café, went to the local hairdressers, played in the local park and joined local sports clubs. I was invited to be a governor at the local school and became friendly with many influencers in the valley. Every connection we made was an opportunity to listen (Proverbs 18:13).

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY

N Y

domestic violence and partnered with many local charities. We held BBQs in the summer and firework nights in the winter. Every activity included a gospel presentation, the offer of prayer, literature, home visits and an invite to the Sunday service.

by many Christians around the world. I thank God for their heart and desire to seek the lost and to see our burned-out communities made new in Christ Jesus. The people in our valley are wonderful and welcoming but brutally honest and have been let down socially and politically for many generations. As a result they have become wary of any kind of hope and are hardened to the Gospel. But, by God’s grace, as Noddfa has seized the opportunity to reposition ourselves as a place of refuge and love, we have listened to our mission field and met their need with Jesus.

John-Edward Funnell (L) and Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds at Carols Under the Arch

Noddfa was slowly becoming the community hub and this was reinforced by our Christmas carol service, which we now hold every year under a local landmark, ‘the Big Arch’. The idea was initially dismissed; nobody could see anyone wanting to meet in the middle of winter under a dilapidated tunnel once used for coal trains. But we prayerfully persisted and partnered with local schools, businesses, housing associations and community projects, and after three years the event has grown from strength to strength, welcoming over 1,000 locals last year. By God’s grace they all heard the Gospel and were introduced to the church. The event did not cost us a penny. After decades of decline Noddfa has welcomed many baptisms and has re-opened the Sunday School. Our once widowed church now runs weekly Bible study groups for men, the most marginalised are finding community, many trapped in vice have now been freed and families have been united in the name of Jesus Christ.

“Family Play” toddler group

You will never know the importance of the word ‘our’ in the Welsh Valleys. It has taken us five years of door-knocking, school assemblies, hospital visits, court appearances, police interviews, carol services, community meetings, charity collections, arguments and break-ins for the valley to call me ‘our’ Pastor John. This is a name I thank God for and will cherish for life. I love them all. But the work has only just begun. We thank you for your support and prayer. • Please go to our website to find out more: www.NoddfaChurch.com John-Edward Funnell studied at the University of Wales and with the Evangelical Movement of Wales. He has been the pastor of Noddfa Church since 2014, and is a member of the editorial board at Evangelical Magazine as well as a Boxing Chaplain for Sports Chaplaincy UK.

Men's prayer meeting and Bible study

I assume (in some part because of previous revivals) the Welsh valleys are viewed romantically

2019

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

Three Things I’ve Learned from John Allen Chau BY MARK POWELL

W sentinel

hen

news

spread

that

the

twenty - six -

of the numerous health risks associated with his mission that Chau made sure he was thoroughly trained in the medical field. In fact, he had been immunised for thirteen types of different diseases and had also placed himself in quarantine for many days before he made contact with the tribe. What’s more, Dr. Ho, the international director of All Nations — the missions agency that commissioned Chau — said that with advances in modern medicine outside influence could actually be of great help to the people there. Dr. Ho also revealed that John Chau had been preparing for this particular mission for eight years and that he was one of All Nations’ top graduates. As such, he was thoroughly prepared in linguistics, cultural anthropology, medicine, missiology and, of course, the Bible.

year - old missionary john allen chau had been murdered by the people of north

island ,

every

media

organisation

the

world was debating the validity of christian missions .

In one sense, it should come as no surprise that the unbelieving world can never understand why someone would lay down their life to tell people about Jesus (i.e. 2 Cor. 4:4). But what has been surprising — and more than a little disappointing — is how many evangelicals have denounced what Chau had done. Especially when, as The Babylon Bee — a satirical Christian website — incisively pointed out, when it comes to witnessing, many of us are so lacking in courage that we hardly ever share the Gospel at all.

In particular, Chau was accused by some of foolishly exposing the Sentinelese to death via deadly diseases while trying to offer them the message of eternal life. Then there were those who questioned whether Chau was adequately trained for such a difficult task. Still others disagreed with taking the Gospel to a place where it was illegal for outsiders to go. However, it didn’t take long for each of these objections to be answered. (See especially the following interview at Christianity Today as well as this excellent response by Tim Challies as well as Denny Burk). For instance, it was precisely because

THE RECORD

And finally, while the ethical issues around Chau going to North Sentinel Island are a little vague since travel bans to the area had recently been lifted, when has it ever been right to obey man rather than God in bringing the good news to the world? (See Acts 5:40-42.) If our forebears had waited until they had permission to bring the Gospel, we would still be living in spiritual darkness. I believe that the life and death of John Allen Chau, though, has revealed three critical issues that the evangelical church in the West today seriously needs to address:

FEBRUARY

johnalau/instagram.com

Many modern evangelicals have lost the theological conviction that the ‘lost’ are truly ‘lost’. That there is no salvation outside of faith in Jesus Christ.

First, we need to recover the Gospel imperative for mission. What has become evident is that many modern evangelicals have lost the theological conviction that the ‘lost’ are truly ‘lost’. That there is no salvation outside of faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:42; John 14:6; Rom. 10:14-15). Chau obviously had a deep conviction that the people of North Sentinel Island needed to hear the Gospel. However, the attitude of many Christians to the actions of the Sentinelese was that they were better left alone. But that betrays the belief that unbelievers are not under the wrath of God (i.e. Romans 1:18-25). Could this be part of the reason why more Christians, especially in the affluent West, are not committing themselves to overseas missions, especially for the long term?

What is especially striking about what Chau wrote was not just his humility, but his absolute dependence upon the LORD. Why did he go back, especially when he knew that it would mean almost certain death? On one level, it’s because he couldn’t leave, since the North Sentinelese had stolen the kayak which contained all of his personal possessions, including his U.S. passport. But ultimately, the reason why he went back was because he was convinced that that was what he had been called to do. As John Chau wrote in his journal, quoting from Jeremiah 1:5: God, I thank you for choosing me before I was even first formed in my mother’s womb, to be your messenger of your good news to the people of North Sentinel Island. Even my heritage points to you...me an American citizen, part Irish, part Native American, part African, part Chinese and Southeast Asian. Thank you Father for using me, for shaping me, for moulding me to be your ambassador. Please continue to help all of us involved hidden from the physical and spiritual forces who desire to keep the people here in darkness. Holy Spirit please open the eyes of the tribe to receive you and, by receiving me, to receive you. May your kingdom, your rule and reign come now to North Sentinel Island. My life is in your hands, O Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. I don’t think I will ever forget the example of John Allen Chau. Many would consider him a fool. And indeed, he was a fool. A fool for Christ in the great tradition of the apostle Paul (1 Cor. 4:10). But Chau’s life and death will have a legacy which will last far into eternity (see Daniel 12:3). And what’s more, he has challenged me personally in profound and farreaching ways in the here and now. It has given me a renewed commitment to pray, both for the lost and for the Lord of the harvest to raise up workers to go to them (Matt. 9:37-38). It has given me a renewed commitment to share the Gospel with those whom I meet. And let’s face it, the jungles of a big city can be just as ferocious as any in deepest, darkest Africa. And it has given me a renewed commitment to go. To lay down my life at the Saviour’s feet and to be used in whatever location and whatever way he sees fit. In short, my heart’s desire is that the LORD would use me just as he has used John Allen Chau. That I wouldn’t live for the fleeting pleasures of this world but that I would store up treasures for myself in the next. As the prophet Isaiah said, before he was sent to a people who would also reject what he had to say, ‘Here am I, Lord, send me!’ Can you sincerely pray the same? •

When has it ever been right to obey man rather than God in bringing the good news to the world? Second, we need to recover a commitment to sacrificial service. One of the last journal entries that John Chau wrote was as follows: ‘I love you all and I pray none of you love anything in this world more than Jesus Christ.’ Chau himself had an attitude of complete surrender to the purposes and plans of Christ. In comparison, I was personally left feeling decidedly worldly and even lukewarm, a spiritual state which the Lord Jesus Christ said makes him want to vomit (Rev. 3:16). Are we prepared to give up everything for the Kingdom of God? Third, we need to recover a truly biblical understanding of the nature of ‘calling’. Why is it that so many men in the ministry today are not going the distance? The reasons are many, but could one of them be that we’ve abandoned any sense of having been called by God? If Christian service is merely a result of one’s own decision, then how does that really encourage us to persevere when the going gets tough? John Chau wrote in his journal on the 15th of November: Last night I had what I’d call a vision, as I’ve never had one before – my eyes were shut but I wasn’t asleep and I saw a purple hue over a ghoul-like city, as a meteorite or star fell to it, and it was a frightening city with jagged spires, and I felt distressed. Then a different light, a whitish light, filled it and all the frightening bits melted away. LORD, is this island Satan’s last stronghold where none have heard or even had a chance to hear your name? LORD, strengthen me as I need your strength and protection and guidance and all that you give and are. Whoever comes after me to take your place, whether it’s after tomorrow or another time, please give them a double anointing and bless them mightily.

2019

The Right Rev. Mark Powell is the former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Australia in NSW and The ACT.

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

THE IOLAIRE TRAGEDY AND THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

Photo - Lewis Museum Trust/PA

BY NIGEL ANDERSON

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY JANUARY

his hearers to contemplate the majesty of God, to bow before his sovereignty, to believe in his righteousness and have recourse to his mercy. This particular response to the scale of the tragedy is mirrored in the repeated reactions of other Free Church ministers, such as Rev. Kenneth Macrae, to the tragic loss of life of young islanders during the four years of the horror of the Great War. Such a consistent reaction is seen in the acceptance of the sovereignty of God in the taking, in death, of young men in the prime of life; yet, at the same time, a perplexity regarding the mystery of providence in such circumstances. One might have imagined that the deeply religious island would have turned away from faith in a sovereign God after the tragedy. Instead we find the opposite. Murdo Macleod from the village of Leurbost tells of the traditional New Year’s service held on the morning of 1st January, when the villagers attended worship to give thanks for peace after four years of war. It was only later that day that the news was heard of the Iolaire sinking and the great loss of life. Later that evening, the same villagers visited each of the homes of the bereaved and held services of worship. The recorded response of the grief-stricken people across the island who had lost family in the tragedy is that they ‘reconciled themselves to God’. Even the non-Christian poet Iain Crichton Smith wrote that ‘In some places such a tragedy would have destroyed the credibility of a loving God: in Lewis it only strengthened their faith in him.’ In today’s secular society such a reaction is inexplicable, but to those who trust in a sovereign God whose purposes are beyond human understanding, it is a response of indomitable faith. •

n 1 st january 1919 a tragedy occurred in lewis that for generations has cast a dark

cloud over the island . HMY Iolaire had left Kyle of Lochalsh late on December 31st to ferry troops back to their homes, their families, their loved ones. The ship never made it to Stornoway harbour. At 1.55am it struck the Beasts of Holm, the dangerous rocks near the shore and entrance of the harbour. At least 201 men out of the 283 on board (including 174 Lewis men and 7 Harris men) perished in sight of land, having survived the horrors of war only to lose their lives so close to home. Much has been written on the disaster in recent months: the magnificent The Darkest Dawn, written by Malcolm Macdonald and the late Donald John Macleod to coincide with the centenary, tells the story of the Iolaire Tragedy in a comprehensive piece of research and empathy (Malcolm’s grandfather, his namesake, was lost in the tragedy). Also, the centenary commemorations held in Lewis on 1st January 2019, including the service at the memorial cairn at Holm, led by Rev. Angus Morrison, and the service of remembrance held on MV Loch Seaforth, led by Rev. James MacIver, to coincide with the memorial service, have brought to a wider national attention the tragic personal accounts of the lost and bereaved. There has been a renewed understanding of the devastating social and economic impact on the island that the catastrophic loss of life contributed to. However, there has been little mentioned regarding the attitude of the churches at the time, as local clergy tried to bring comfort to the bereaved and bewildered as they sought to reconcile what had happened with the providence of God. Indeed, the whole aspect of the mystery of divine providence in relation to the tragedy was, in many ways, highlighted in the response of the Free Church to the Iolaire disaster, especially as many of those who lost their lives were from Free Church congregations. In his Sunday sermon immediately following the tragedy, Rev. Kenneth Cameron, minister of Stornoway Free Church, preached from Psalm 46:10: Be still and know that I am God. He spoke of the dark and mysterious happenings in the providence of God, mentioning the ‘sore visitation... wrapped in mystery’ which brought a ‘heavy cup of unlooked for sorrow’, but that ‘out of the darkness is heard the voice of him whose way is in the sea.’ Without denying the catastrophe of the events of that grim New Year’s morning, he pleaded with

2019

Such a secure faith in God’s ways is summed up in the Psalm sung at the Holm Memorial, sung in the language of the men who were involved in the tragedy: Do cheuman tha san doimhneachd mhòir, do shlighe tha sa chuan: Ach luirg do chas chan aithnich sinn, tha siud am falach uainn.. (Salm 77: 19) Thy way is in the sea, and in the waters great thy path; Yet are thy footsteps hid, O Lord; None knowledge thereof hath. (Psalm 77: 19)

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

THE IOLAIRE DISASTER:

BY ALASDAIR MACLEOD

streaming sunshine that pressed softly through the unresisting clouds and irradiated the heaven-silvered, peace-filled sea; and they declared to the gently resting flotilla of respect-paying local fishing boats and ribs and to the ferry majestically moored alongside, gracefully hosting its own assembly of remembrance. I gazed at the illuminated, peaceful beauty of my surroundings, and found it almost impossible to reconcile them with the storm-crashing darkness and horror of 100 years before. How did our Christian islands survive such providence? Why did these believers, in their grief and trauma, not turn from their faith and reject the God that had allowed their returning sons to perish on the doorstep of their home? Because God had promised. He had promised that when they passed through the waters, he would be with them, and when they passed through the rivers they would not be overwhelmed. Like the oak tree violently pushed and shaken by the howling storm that is kept firm by its strong, deep roots, these traumatised Christians’ strong, deep roots of faith held firm too. These heartbroken saints were still and knew that he was God — the God who gave his only Son at Calvary for them. With tear-filled eyes of faith, they looked beyond the darkness, pain and sorrow of Calvary, and saw the beauty, light, love, forgiveness and salvation that shines from Jesus Christ’s sacrifice there. And with the same tear-filled eyes of faith they looked through the darkness, pain and sorrow of the Iolaire tragedy and saw God’s hand in events…and that was enough for them. When we cannot explain, we trust. When we cannot comprehend, we believe. When we cannot bear to go one step further, we are carried. Because God has promised that we are his…and we will not be overwhelmed. •

t remains the worst peacetime loss of life in the sinking of a british ship in british waters of the 20th century, and

yet most people in britain have never heard of it. Even in the Isle of Lewis where the disaster happened, it was rarely discussed, except in reticent, hushed tones, until over half a century after the event — the pain was too raw, the trauma still indelible. The sinking of the Iolaire (Eagle in Gaelic) on the Beasts of Holm at 1.55am on the 1st January 1919, just outside the entrance to Stornoway harbour, resulted in the loss of 201 men returning from the horrors of the 1st World War, and traumatised the islands’ strongly Christian community for generations to come. With the recent world-wide commemoration of the centenary of the 1st World War there has also, rightly, been the commemoration of the centenary of the Iolaire Disaster. There have been brilliant books and press articles written and some excellent television programmes and radio interviews produced, as well as many individual village commemoration events. In Stornoway there was a 1.30am New Year’s morning vigil at the Iolaire Monument; a New Year’s Eve televised event of prayer, poetry, drama and music at the Stornoway Sports Centre; and lastly a 12pm New Year’s Day commemorative service at the Iolaire Monument at Holm led by Rev. Dr Angus Morrison, whilst simultaneously on the ferry berthed alongside the Holm coast a second commemorative service was being led by Rev. James MacIver. I was privileged to be one of the stewards at the midday service at the Iolaire Monument at Holm. Hundreds of men, women and children gathered at the event, several dozens of whom had relatives who had died in the disaster. Local dignitaries, Council officials and organisers, Royal Navy officers and personnel including a Navy Brass Band from Faslane, along with army personnel, local firefighters, police and first aiders, all gathered at or near the monument for the service. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and HRH Prince Charles flew in especially for the event with Prince Charles movingly reading from Isaiah 43 “...But now, thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you…” The tannoy solemnly echoed these precious, living words out into the soul-stirringly beautiful surroundings; they called to the grassy, sloping hillside, congregated with hundreds of souls, poignant and focused, listening/ remembering/worshipping; they sounded to the shiny, black-jagged cliffs and rocks and to the sporadic, green islets and channels of lapping blue; they spoke to the

THE RECORD

Memorial bearing names of some of the 201 lives lost.

FEBRUARY

COMMEMORATION SERVICE

2019

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

WOMEN FOR MISSION COMMITTEE W

omen for mission projects and events are organised by a committee of twelve people from different free

church congregations . Over the next few months we hope to use this space to introduce you to some its members. This month the Donations Secretary, Mairi Macdonald, and Chairperson, Janet Murchison, tell us a little about themselves.

My name is Janet Murchison and I have been a member of the WfM Committee for three years. I live in Drumnadrochit and I am a member of Glenurquhart & Fort Augustus Free Church. I am married to Andrew and we have four children aged between fourteen and twenty-one. It is a real privilege to be a part of this Committee and I have been inspired by the talented women who have either served or are still serving on the Committee. I have also come to appreciate how much work goes on behind the scenes in the planning of annual meetings, away days and the different ways in which WfM supports missionary work either at home or overseas. Until recently I was Donations Secretary and was greatly encouraged to see how much interest is shown in the WfM projects and to learn of the different, often creative, ways in which groups of all ages and congregations, both around the country and overseas, raise money to support these. As Chairperson I look forward to continuing with the work of WfM as we seek to help others share the love of Christ in practical ways. â&#x20AC;˘

My name is Mairi MacDonald and I have been a member of the WfM committee for two years. I am a retired teacher and live in the north end of Skye and am a member of the Trotternish congregation. I am married to Ian and we have four grown-up children and ten grandchildren between the ages of eight and twenty-six. I have had an interest in our church mission work for as long as I can remember and have been compiling the missionary prayer notes since 2012. I have just taken over the position of Donations Secretary from Janet Murchison and it is exciting to see how many individuals and groups are involved in raising funds for the projects WfM is involved in. â&#x20AC;˘

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY

BOOK REVIEW Former Moderator REV. ALEX MACDONALD reflects on Irene Howat’s beautiful new volume of Scots/English poetry. On the occasion of the Centenary, Irene’s book explores the effect of the Great War on a small Scottish community.

We hear Robbie’s thoughts of his wife and baby as he went over the top: I knew I was going mad, But it was a comfort to be mad At Passchendaele. We meet a returned soldier, who had lost his brother in the war and who hardly spoke a word to anyone, finally opening up to Tam about what had happened to his brother. But he couldn’t live with his loss. Not all stories have happy endings. None of the poems is overtly religious, but the whole is suffused with grace, and Tam shows what it means to live a Christian life. This book is a delight and a treasure and very moving. •

any television and radio programmes and magazine and newspaper articles have been reflecting on the recent centenary commemoration of the end

of the first world war.

None of them have moved me like this little book by Irene Howat. The Crackit Cup is a cycle of poems dealing with the devastating impact of the War on a small rural Scottish community. It is written in Scots, but with the English version of each poem given on the opposite page, so that if you don’t know Scots, or only know some words and expressions, you can still follow the meaning. However, the Scots versions have their own distinctive vigour. Irene deals with the very personal effects of the war on individuals and community — the arrival of telegrams bearing the news young wives never wanted to hear; the soldiers returning to their wives and families shellshocked and shattered; the children who never really knew their fathers. But all revolves round the central character, ‘Tuimheidit Tam’, a simple soul who was unfit for military service, ‘the yin whase king hud nocht fur im tae dae’. But Tam fought his own war in his simple and kindhearted way. While the other young men were fighting in France, he worked away, unassumingly giving support and encouragement to whomever he could. Tam is the crackit cup, ‘useful and still beautiful despite a little damage’. Irene says that ‘Tam has lived in my imagination for some time’, and he is one of the most compelling characters you are likely to come across in any form of literature. But you will also meet Kate and Willie and Wattie and Robbie and Maisie. The Crackit Cup is a celebration of the little people in obscure places — their heartbreak, their despair, their faith and their hope. The first poem begins with the lines: The pellock that felled Franz Ferdinand skited roon the warld; and the last poem ends with: the meenister raxed up is airms ower the yin whase king hud nocht fur im tae dae an lippened Tam fur aye tae is Maister. In between, we find Tam comforting a widow: The weeda grat awfu tears Burnin lyk the sin. Tam sat quate aside er. Whan she stapped He gied her is cup o watter.

2019

THE CRACKIT CUP IRENE HOWAT HANDSEL PRESS (2018) WWW.SANCTUSMEDIA.COM £5.00

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

BOOK REVIEWS Life, rest, family, love, death — our books this month don’t shy away from the big issues of life. DYING WELL, JOHN WYATT (2018) This book is written by a retired professor of medicine. In it he considers the modern process of dying and its implications for Christians. Today, most people in the West die away from their homes and under the care of professionals, which is a huge change from previous generations. Although death is an enemy, there are spiritual benefits in preparing for it and the author provides nine, including increased dependence on God, healing of relationships and anticipation of meeting with Jesus. At the same time, there are possible spiritual dangers to avoid such as increase in doubt and loss of hope and the author provides helpful advice in connection to those negative experiences. Death is both common and inevitable, yet there is the opportunity for Christians to prepare for it and make it an occasion of appreciating God’s presence, of engaging in witness to his grace, and of being a time of comfort for family and friends. This book would be of great usefulness for pastors and others as they interact with the dying and the bereaved. It is also a suitable book for all Christians to read because it provides clear advice for preparing for the one certain event in their lives and which gives to them the opportunity of glorifying God as they journey to meet him. • Malcolm Maclean, Greyfriars Free Church, Inverness

IDOLS OF A MOTHER’S HEART CHRISTINA FOX (2018) I found this book very thought-provoking in terms of the tendency we all have to put other things, apart from Jesus, at the centre of our lives. The second half of the book discusses the particular issues faced by mothers, but the first half of the book could be used by any group of Christians to discuss what motivates us and takes up our attention and time. As there are questions at the end of each chapter, and a prayer to address the issue under discussion, it could make a useful Bible study aid. I found the chapter on 'control' particularly helpful as that's an aspect of life we rarely class as an idol, but which I found particularly compelling. With references to other books but especially Bible passages, Christina Fox digs into the uncomfortable areas of challenge and temptation which motherhood brings, and back to the centrality of being honest in our prayers about our egocentricity in so many areas. She ends by reminding us of the necessity of rooting up our idols and replacing them with our Saviour as we come to know him more through Bible study, prayer, self-control and fellowship with other Christians. • Mairi Martin, Esk Valley Church

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY

THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES GARY CHAPMAN (2016) Every marriage guidance book worth its salt rightly emphasises that good communication between a husband and wife is central to a happy marriage. In his book The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, Rev. Dr. Gary Chapman (Associate Pastor and experienced marriage counsellor), with wisdom and humour, teaches you and your spouse how to communicate with each other more effectively by identifying the five love languages — five primary ways that people express and understand love. These five love languages are words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service or physical touch. Gary Chapman has identified from his many years of marriage counselling that if you are expressing love in a language that isn’t your spouse’s primary love language then it can lead to frustration, tension and eventually, tragically, even the break-up of the marriage because, though the love is being expressed by you, it is not being recognised or valued by your spouse. But encouragingly he also says, ‘Once you identify and learn to speak your spouse’s primary love language, I believe that you will have discovered the key to a long-lasting, loving marriage.’ As the divorce rate in the UK remains tragically high, this book is a valuable resource to help couples strengthen their love and their marriage. Every married couple in the Free Church should read this book — I have given a copy of it to several friends as a wedding gift.

There are also other books in the 5 Love Languages Series worth a read, including The 5 Love Languages: Singles Edition and The 5 Love Languages of Children. • Alasdair B.M. Macleod, Stornoway Free Church

THE ART OF REST, ADAM MABRY (2018) Adam Mabry is an American author, but the references are as appropriate for us in Britain. It is written in a chatty and easy-to-read style. The author himself is a workaholic who finds it hard to stop, to unwind and to rest. However, he has come to the conclusion that this incessant working is in fact a lack of trust in the Sovereignty of God. We think we have to keep working in order to keep all of life together, instead of trusting in the God who holds the universe together. This book looks at various aspects of rest: how it isn’t just for one day (the Sabbath), different ways to use rest, and also why and how rest is essential for us to keep going. • Fiona M. Talbot, Plockton & Kyle Free Church

GET IN TOUCH: EMAIL: books@freechurch.org SHOP: https://thefree.church/shop

2019

WEBSITE: books.freechurch.org MAILING LIST: https://thefree.church/books-sign-up

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

BOOK REVIEW A review of Love Thy Body by ANDREW ROYCROF

developments and transports the reader into the ‘why’ of worldview. The reader can easily detect the intellectual depth and acute analysis which Pearcey brings to the table in writing this text, but it is all presented in such a manner that any thinking Christian might grasp its message. The backbone to Pearcey’s approach is the idea of a body/person divide which has been subsumed into modern thought. This dualism is perceived as being at the core of how society can terminate children in the womb, prematurely end the lives of adults, and redefine the boundaries of human relationships and identity. The explication and application of this principle are compelling, with a definite sense that Gnosticism is alive and well in the modern world. Some of Pearcey’s arguments are so clearly in line with reality that one wonders how they have not thought things through in such a way previously. It would be difficult to overemphasise the importance of this book. Every church leader should read it; chaplains involved with student ministry need to process the arguments made here; parents should buy two copies (one for themselves and one for their teenager) and use it as a way of helping young people to understand the whole concept of secular worldview. The ramifications of Pearcey’s research are massive for how we relate to our friends, families, colleagues and even our political system. It is all too easy to say ‘you must read’ about a book which has engaged our mind or pierced our heart, but this book really is a must-read for anyone concerned to understand their world, engage their world, and speak truth to it. •

aiting for help to arrive can make seconds seem like hours.

If you’ve ever been in the terrifying position of knowing that you or someone near you needs help, but that it is some distance out, you’ll understand. Over the past twenty years the evangelical church has been caught up in a cultural collision which has inflicted heavy damages and some seemingly dangerous injuries, and help has not been readily at hand. The colonisation of Western epistemology by postmodernism, and the cognate judicial and ethical implications that it has brought, have meant that belief has felt increasingly beleaguered and embattled. Few of our parents or grandparents could ever have foreseen the moral U-turns and tailspins which have characterised the past halfgeneration, and as those who have followed them we have perhaps felt trapped in the wreckage with solutions which don’t quite fit our acute problems. This reality first came home to me as an undergraduate English and philosophy student over 20 years ago. New historicism was realising a scorched earth policy in terms of our whole self understanding, and as a young man it felt that the church was fast asleep to the issue. Writers like Os Guinness and D.A. Carson were helpful and steadyhanded first-responders, stanching the dreadful losses which the church could otherwise have sustained. By the time I was in pastoral ministry the postmodern tsunami was still far from the shore of daily and domestic life, and works like The Gagging of God or The Gravedigger File,while carrying amazing credibility, were not written at a popular level. In the ten years that have followed it has been hard to put one’s hand to a text which can be shared with a young person, or with a concerned adult reader that would give them a means of understanding their now morally inundated world. The first sirens that signalled help was on the way have been welcome indeed. Away from raw epistemology, the ethical issues which have rewritten how society thinks and feels have begun to receive sustained and intelligent treatment by evangelical authors. When Christ intersected the life of Rosaria Butterfield, for instance, he was providing an individual who could write with personal authority, intellectual clarity, and popular appeal. We should thank God for her, and others like her who are emerging from the popular culture with more than a story to tell, but a way for us to biblically interpret our world. Nancy Pearcey is one such person. In her latest book she tackles some of the biggest issues facing the church with a rigour and transparency which are simply stunning. Issues around abortion, euthanasia, gender identity, and sexuality are analysed in cool-headed and warm-hearted terms. What sets her book apart from some other recent titles is that it is not primarily concerned to address these issues at a pastoral level (although that is included) but in terms of epistemology. Pearcey cuts through the ‘what’ of recent

THE RECORD

LOVE THY BODY: ANSWERING HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE AND SEXUALITY NANCY PEARCEY BAKER BOOKS, (2018) £14.99

FEBRUARY

Do we introduce Jesus to our children, to our friends, our colleagues, as a friend? Or as a remote, larger-than-life, believe-or-literally-damn-theconsequences judge? Of course, Jesus is both, but do we make him winsome and attractive, through our lives and the loving way we speak of him? No one is attracted to someone who is held over them as a threat. And Jesus is not Machiavellian. His ultimate desire is our love, not our fear. Learning about Jesus is an ongoing conversation for my daughter. I like to think that, though we don’t do family devotions in a rigid way, our Bible stories and songs and chats take place as described in Deuteronomy 6:7, Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

was woken up one morning just after the new year when my four-year-old daughter crawled into bed with me. ‘mommy, i had a dream,’ she said. ‘about jesus.’

This sounds promising. ‘Oh yeah? What happened?’ ‘Jesus came back and everyone died.’ My daughter is a spiritual genius. Maybe a prophetess. ‘Well, you know, that is kind of what’s going to happen one day. Jesus will come back and everyone who loves him will go and be with him.’ ‘I don’t want to go with Jesus.’ Then again, maybe not. This was naturally not what I wanted to hear from a theological discussion with my toddler, especially not before I’d had coffee. I think there can be an instinct to recoil away from anyone who says that. With a child, you want to chide them — ‘that’s a terrible thing to say,

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS In her last article before going on maternity leave, DAYSPRING MACLEOD shares her evangelism strategy for preschoolers. I don’t want to hear it again’ — and with an adult, you want to walk away. ‘Fine, they’ve rejected my offer, I mean Jesus’ offer, so I’ll shake the dust off my feet.’ What I realised, though, is that my daughter’s attitude is the only possible one, in a sense. No one can want to go be with Jesus until they know him. For her, it would be like going with a stranger to a place she can’t ever return from. Still, ‘I don’t want to go with Jesus’ are scary words to hear from anyone you love, so I tried to reason with her. ‘Do you mean you’re scared of dying?’ ‘No. I don’t like Jesus. He’s big.’ This is, incidentally, the same charge she levels against Santa, of whom she is terrified. Yes, Santa is good (though she already distinguishes that, unlike Jesus, Santa isn’t real). He brings good things. But he is also big and loud and a stranger. At her nursery Christmas party, he was so big and loud that she hid behind me the entire time and wouldn’t come out to get her present. When it came time for the Sunday School party, I resorted to introducing her to the young man playing Santa before he put on the costume. What a transformation! Even when he reappeared in a beard and red suit, she wasn’t scared because he wasn’t a stranger, but a friend.

2019

A few days after her dream, we were reading about the crucifixion in the Jesus Storybook Bible, my daughter’s favourite source of theology. ‘You know why Jesus let those people kill him?’ I asked her at the end. ‘It was so he could take our punishment for all the bad things we do, so we could be friends with him.’ ‘But Jesus is scary! He’s big!’ ‘Yes, but he made himself small. Just like a normal person. Remember how we talked about that at Christmas, how he was born as a tiny baby? This is that same Jesus. But he came to save us so we could be his friends and live with him one day. That’s why your seanair lives with Jesus now. And your mommy and daddy and granny and grandma and grandpa are all friends with Jesus. And he wants to be your friend too.’ ‘But I don’t know how to be friends with Jesus,’ she said. ‘Well, just like anyone else, you have to get to know him.’ ‘How do I do that?’ I looked down at the Bible story pages. And it dawned on me. Maybe I wasn’t such a bad Christian mom after all. ‘You’re doing it right now,’ I told her. ‘This is how you get to know Jesus.’ •

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

MISSION MATTERS A monthly take on some of the mission work the Free Church is involved in by our Mission Director, DAVID MEREDITH.

eople just love stories.

There is a dramatic increase in the number of people who view box sets. According to Ofcom, eight out of ten adults, or 40 million people, use catch-up technology to watch multiple episodes of a series in one sitting. Our TV adverts are increasingly mini-dramas; people look for the Christmas ad for John Lewis or Lidl in the same way that they would anticipate the sequel of a blockbuster movie series. The cultural analysts tell us that there is a revival in Romanticism which emphasises emotion, sentiment and experience over reason. This is why people are attracted to stories: because they demonstrate elements of life which go beyond reason. It is too simplistic to say that this is a wholly bad situation. Bare facts and naked truth seldom lead to changed lives. Reason has to be lived as well as argued if it is to be accepted. The ultimate story is the drama of redemption. God ran towards rebels who hated him and decreed that his Son would die as their substitute. The unfaithful ones would be spared eternal death because the Father loved them so much that he sent his Son to die instead of them. This is the melodic line which runs through the whole Bible. It is a story told not by a flow chart but through the experiences of men and women whose stories we read in the Bible.

of Africa; by 2000, there were 335 million. In Latin America, there were a mere 50,000 Protestants in 1900; today, there are more than 64 million, and most of them since the 1960s. In the Scottish context that means that the kingdom will expand and churches will subsequently grow, not through the ministry of ‘big names’ but through the faithful witness of people whose names will be forgotten within one generation. Even in the Free Church today, the most effective missionaries are the women and men who tell God’s story and their own experience of God.

The gospel will spread and the Church will grow if our people simply tell their stories to non-believers. Christian apologetics and public square engagement are essential for challenging and destroying the idols of our culture, but they are not the whole story. The Bible speaks also of a church growing through people speaking the word boldly (Acts 4:31; 8:4). What makes telling our story so powerful? People may be able to argue with a theological point, but they can’t argue with your life-changing experience of God. They will have seen the joy in your face and witnessed how your life has been radically changed through Christ. Also, we can get nervous and tongue-tied, worrying whether we have enough knowledge of science and philosophy to meet the big questions. Theodicy, or the problem of suffering, is a significant intellectual question, but if you tell how your cancer diagnosis turned into an unexpected mercy you will demonstrate the merciful purpose of God in your life. Your life will visually portray grace. The point? In the gospel we have been given a better story than any others. Mission is not just about the workings of our Mission Board. The engine of mission is not our numerous strategies, but you telling your story of your encounter with Jesus. If you do that, stand back and you will be amazed at what the Spirit does with your simple story. Tell that story to someone today and then tomorrow and the next day. •

People may be able to argue with a theological point, but they can’t argue with your lifechanging experience of God. As I travel though our wonderfully diverse denomination it is becoming increasingly clearer by the day that the gospel will spread and the Church will grow if our people simply tell their stories to non-believers. Let me put it in clear terms. The most effective form of mission is not preaching from pulpits but storytelling on pavements. The massive growth of the Church in the global south has not come through the noble efforts of organised mission but through the natural and organic method of people speaking to other people about their newfound faith. Here are some amazing statistics: In 1900, there were only nine million Christians in all

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY

Àrd-uachdranachd Dhè (The Sovereignty of God) LE JANET NICPHÀIL

‘D

h’òrdaich thu a chrìochan,agus cha tèid e thairis orra’.

Nach e seo a lorgas sinn sgrìobhte ann an Leabhar Iob? Is iad sin facail a tha ag innse dhuinn gu bheil làithean an duine air thalamh air an àireamh Leis-san. Chan eil sin ag ràdh idir nach eil mòran de nithean duilich air an talamh, nithean air nach ruig tuigse an duine. Nach ann mar sin a tha obair Dhè gu lèir? Chan eil sinn a’ faicinn ach fìor bheagan aig na h-amannan as fheàrr. Tha Esan, ‘àrd thar gach tìr’, ’s ged a bhiodh daoine a’ rannsachadh ’s a’ fiachainn ri brìgh a dhèanamh de dh’obair Dhè, gheibh iad a-mach glè aithghearr nach ruig an inntinn ach air an iomall. Nach math dhuinne agus an Cruthaidhear cho cumhachdach, gur e Dia tròcaireach a th’ann? Mur biodh A thròcair, dè a thachradh dhuinne? Is e leasan prìseil a tha an sin dhuinn. Ma tha àireamh ar là Aige-san, tha seo a’ ciallachadh gu bheil seo folaicht’ oirnne. Bhiodh e eu-comasach dhuinn a bhith beò ’s ag obair cruaidh, a’ cleachdadh nan tàlant a thug E dhuinn, nam biodh fios againne air fad ar là san t-saoghal. Na ghliocas, dh’ fholaich E seo oirnn’, agus nach eil gach nì a rinn E a’ sealltainn A chumhachd agus A ghliocas? Aig toiseach na bliadhna, tha mòran anns na h-Eileanan air a bhith a’ comharrachadh call na h-Iolaire, tubaist far an do chailleadh mòran a thàinig tro chogadh, agus a bha, cha mhòr aig an ceann-uidhe. Call air nach gabh facail a chur, agus a bha mar adhbhar air iomadh briseadh cridhe ann an iomadh dachaigh anns na h-eileanan. Nach bu mhìorbhaileach beagan bhliadhnaichean an-dèidh seo, gun tàinig Spiorad a’ Chruthaidheir ann an cumhachd gu na h-Eileanan -sa? Lorg mòran neart, beatha ùr agus spiorad taingeil gun deach an toirt à

dorchadas gu solas, agus dh’atharraich seo beatha ann am bailtean, agus ann an sgìrean, agus bha mòran seinn ri chluinntinn. Tha an Tì a tha ‘àrd thar gach tìr’ a’ riaghladh, agus thig E a thadhal air dachaigh, sgìre no eilean na àm Fhèin. Chan eil fios againne cuin a thig E ann an cumhachd, ach bheir e misneach dhuinn a bhith a’ coimhead air-ais, ’s a bhith a’ faicinn mar a neartaich E coimhearsnachdan a bha glè bhochd, le beartas maireannach. Adhbhar taingealachd gu dearbh, nach bu chòir dhuinn gu bràth a dhìchuimhneachadh. Bhiodh e math gum biodh ar cridheachan ullaichte, gun fhios nach till E fhathast ann an cumhachd, gus an aithnicheadh sinn A cheuman nuair a thig E. Nach e seo eachdraidh-beatha an duine air thalamh? Leughaidh sinn mu chall mòr goirt, agus cluinnidh sinn cuideachd mu bheannachd Dhè. Is Esan a tha a’ riaghladh, agus aig amannan, ceadaichidh E nithean a chuireas eagal oirnn’, ach tha seo a’ tachairt ann an iomadh rìoghachd. Chan eil freagairt againne do na nithean -sa. Tha iad a’ sealltainn gu soilleir nach eil annainn ach ‘daoine’, agus gur Esan Cruthaidhear nan uile. Feumaidh sinn a bhith a’ fiachainn ri bhith rèidh ri freastal Dhè, eadhon nuair a tha seo a’ briseadh ar cridhe, oir bidh cinnt nar cridheachan gu bheil Esan glic, agus ’s dòcha nach tuig sinne gu bràth iomadh nì nar freastal fhìn, ach ma tha sinn ag earbs’ às aig gach àm, canaidh sinn còmhla ri fear eile, ‘Ged mharbh E mi, gidheadh earbaidh mi as’. Bidh sinn ag ùrnaigh airson càch a chèile, gu faigh sinn spiorad sàmhach, socair, eadhon nuair a bhios cùisean a’ dol nar n-aghaidh. •

A Chruthaidheir, dèan rèidh mi nuair thig nam fhreastal èiginn. Dèan sàmhach glic mo chridhe brist’ gu bhith ’g earbs’ à Tì nach trèig mi.’ don Bhritheamh mhòr a dhealbh dhuinn Slàinte.

2019

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

POETRY PAGE THE WONDER OF CREATION BY SUE MCCREADIE All of life is a masterpiece, painted by our Creator’s hand The bright colours of a rainbow to the smallest grain of sand Each gentle falling snowflake is unique in it’s design The stars, the moon, the heavens made by a hand divine. From the skillfully woven threads in the spider’s webbed loom To the wonder of a baby growing within its mother’s womb.

Photo by Annie Niemaszyk on Unsplash

All of life is a miracle, and as we walk upon this earth We’re blessed by love and grace by the one who gave us birth We’re part of Life’s creation, held close in God’s tender care So precious to our Father, the one who’s always there Through all our joys and sorrows, He keeps us company Bringing light into the darkness, and hope to you and me.

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY JANUARY

PRAYER DIARY FEB/MA R 2019 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1 Fri 15th Give thanks for the life and ministry of Rev D.K. Macleod and pray that his family will be comforted as they mourn his passing. Sat 16th Give thanks for the many students who are benefitting from attending the Saturday course in the Seminary. Pray that they will be able to share their faith as a result. Sun 17th Pray for the South Uist and Benbecula congregation and their interim moderator, Rev. David Macleod. Give thanks for their witness in that community. Mon 18th Pray for Joseph Steinberg and the Council of Management for CWI as they look to God for wisdom as they make decisions on the way forward for their work with Jewish people. Tues 19th Pray for the work of camps. Pray that all the preparations for this year’s camps will go well and young lives and hearts are being prepared to learn from their summer experience. Wed 20th Give thanks for the Heart for Home fund which is available for groups to access to show Jesus’ compassion to those around them in their communities. Thurs 21st Pray for protection for Christians in Uttar Pradesh state after a popular Indian newspaper published several articles falsely accusing Christian evangelists of luring people to Christianity by offering them money or free health benefits.

Mon 25th In Fairtrade fortnight give thanks for the raised awareness of giving farmers and workers a fair deal and pray that this will increase. Tues 26th Pray for the outreach of the Mustard Seed café in Broadford today and for other such ministries throughout the church. Pray for blessing among the helpers and participants. Wed 27th Praise God that he has made us as spiritual beings in his image. Pray that we learn to live our lives from a Kingdom perspective and as a result make a difference to the world around us. . Thurs 28th Pray for the Philippines Basketball for Jesus group who have shared the gospel with people in the slums in Manila over the past decade. WfM’s project aims to raise funds for their building fund.

Fri 8th Pray that all those who gather for the Falkirk lecture tonight will be blessed as they hear Rev. I. Martin continue his series on the ‘Extraordinary Life of Moses’. Sat 9th Rico Tice will be speaking to church workers in Skye this afternoon and there will be an evangelistic meeting in the evening. Pray for blessing on this and the joint services tomorrow in Portree. Sun 10 th Pray for the young congregation of Grace Church Montrose and their interim moderator, Rev. Alberto de Paulo, as they gather for worship today.

Fri 1st Pray for the work of the Bible Society in Iraq as they provide Bibles and food to refugees and strengthen people to remain as steadfast witnesses for Christ.

Mon 11th Today, on Commonwealth Day, give thanks for Her Majesty the Queen and pray for those in leadership of the organisation of the 53 countries of which she is head.

Sat 2nd Pray for disabled refugees, who are even more vulnerable and isolated than other refugees. WfM are raising funds to help a rehabilitation project bring hope and a new perspective to many.

Tues 12 th This week the Seminary students and staff are on a break. Pray for them all as they recharge their batteries and for the Board of Ministry as they meet today.

Sun 3rd Remember our sister church in North America and Rev. Kent Compton as the chair of the presbytery.

Fri 22nd Pray about the shortage of teachers throughout the UK, with fewer people entering the profession and many leaving after less than five years.

Mon 4th Pray for the work among the poor in Bulgaria, where Bear Necessities, along with locals, aim to make it possible for a medical team to visit the village of Orizari to provide triage care.

Sat 23rd Give thanks for teachers who help young people to know right from wrong both in day schools and in Sunday Schools.

Tues 5th The mission board is scheduled to meet today. Pray for them as they discuss the revitalisation programme they have set out on.

Sun 24th Remember the vacant congregation of Garrabost and Rev. Andrew Coghill, their interim moderator. Pray that they will soon be settled with a pastor to lead them in their community.

Thurs 7th The Annual Church History lecture takes place today. Pray for Donald Meek, who will be leading, and for all who attend.

Wed 13 th At our mid-week prayer meetings let us join with Justin Welby and pray that our churches will be a beacon of hospitality for the poor, showing the light of Christ’s love in our community. Thurs 14 th Please pray for safety, patience, and help for soldiers away. Ask the Lord to bless their families at home and pray for creativity as SASRA workers mix with those left behind.

Wed 6th Tonight the Commission of Assembly meet. Pray for Rev. Angus MacRae and the commissioners as they deal with the business on their agenda.

Prayer requests to: ian.macdonald57@btinternet.com. Please take time to send requests for your congregation or ministry to be included in forthcoming Records. These prayer notes are prepared 5 weeks in advance of publication.

2019

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

BY CATRIONA MURRAY

POST TENEBRAS LUX I

t’s

always

boost

our

jaded wee immune systems here in

the

outer

hebrides ,

when

the days begin to brighten once

Photo by Paul Robert on Unsplash

more .

The old folk used to say that, after midwinter, each day gained the length of a cockerel’s stride; although, perhaps we need to adapt that metaphor to a changing culture. How about this: in December, a Lewis day has the life of an iPhone battery, but by March it’s as long as a Free Church sermon? I suppose it’s also typical of human nature that we initially rush to embrace the darkness, looking forward to drawing the curtains, and long, cosy evenings by the fire. We have a romanticised idea of how it will be — curled up with a book, or indulging your passion for boxsets — all by fire and candlelight. Once the hoopla of Christmas has gone, however, we have had enough of all that. It is like the crispness of new fallen snow turning to grubby slush, and we just want to fast forward to spring for light and newness. This anticipation of cosiness finds its ultimate expression in Christmas. We are then more than ready to sweep the detritus of the festivities away and look to the next new thing. In spiritual terms, though, we should know that Christmas fulfils only part of the promise. Our Saviour was born, yes, but could not remain in the cradle if He was going to set us free. There was more to be done than simply coming into the world; His journey, like our own, had to follow a set course. Jesus

THE RECORD

had to grow and develop in His human nature, before He could accomplish what would finally liberate us and bring us from the anticipated light of Christmas, to the glorious blaze of Easter. Other churches mark the festival of Candlemas on February 4th. We don’t — and not just because the word is composed of two things we’ve spent the last 500 years trying to get away from! It is, effectively, the end of Christmas because it marks the end of celebrating the birth of Christ, with His presentation to God in the Temple. This event is recorded by Luke, where we see that the presence of this infant had a profound impact upon two people in particular: Simeon and Anna. They were both elderly, and had lived their lives in faith, waiting for what they now saw in this child: the beginning of God’s redemptive plan being unfurled in all its loveliness. Of course, the narrative of the Gospels tells us that Jesus lived until He was thirty-three. It seems unlikely that either Simeon or Anna would witness the events we now think of as corresponding with Easter. They didn’t have to. Simeon uttered the prayer, known in some sections of the Church (and the musical world) as the Nunc Dimittis, in which he asks God to let him die in peace, now that ‘my own eyes have seen thy salvation’. Anna had seen sorrow, being widowed after only seven years of marriage. Unusually, she eschewed the possibility of remarriage and devoted her

life to God, sharing His truth in a ministry tha lasted several decades. It seems certain that she would not have wavered, even had her own eyes not seen the baby Jesus, presented to His Father in the temple. Neither of these people were in a hurry, though, just because the long-anticipated Redeemer had finally come. They knew that this babe in arms had yet to grow to manhood before He could begin His ministry and complete the work of salvation by walking out of the tomb, where death could not hold Him captive. It was enough for them that He had been born, and that He was being presented as a firstborn son. Both could rest on their faith that the rest of this plan would unfold according to the promise, and in God’s own time. God could have sped time up if He had wanted, and brought Jesus to adulthood in the blink of an eye. We could have all the wonderful optimism of His birth, and the triumph of His resurrection in the same dizzying breath. God did not plan it that way, however. Jesus grew from infancy, through childhood, and beyond. If we linger over Him as we are supposed, then, we will learn from this Saviour at every stage in His journey upon the earth. Ultimately, He brought so much light that He extended our days, not just for a season, but throughout eternity. •

FEBRUARY