The Record - January 2022

THE

RECORD

MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND JANUARY 2022 • £2.00

Editor • John Macdonald The Editor, Free Church Offices, 15 North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS editor@freechurch.org News Editor • Dayspring MacLeod dayspring.macleod@icloud.com 07974 261567 Missions News • Sarah Johnson Free Church Offices, 15 North Bank Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS sarah@freechurch.org WfM Editor • Fiona Macaskill 8 Campsie Drive, Glasgow, G61 3HY rfmacaskill@me.com 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 • Dayspring MacLeod dayspring.macleod@icloud.com Design & Layout • Fin Macrae @DUFI Art www.dufi-art.com The Record • ISSN 2042-2970 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 This QR Code will direct you to the digital version of the magazine on ISSUU. Available for 30 days for current print subscribers.

For Subscriptions • The annual subscription price for The Record is £33. Cheques should be iPhone: Open your camera app and hold the lens above made payable to: Free Church of Scotland. Please the QR Code, it will automatically detect the link which contact the offices for overseas subscription costs. you can click on to open.

Android: Download QR Code Reader from Google Play Details of the church's activities, latest news and Store and follow app directions. 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

02

JANUARY

Cover: ©Kanokpon - stock.adobe.com

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

CONTENTS

WELCOME TO THE JANUARY RECORD

H

04 STAY CURIOUS The Editor

appy new year.

‘New Year is a good time to fix one’s eyes on the only One who knows what the year is to hold,’ wrote Elisabeth Elliot.

The themes of seeking wisdom and understanding appear throughout this month’s edition. When it comes to gaining understanding, my generation is prone to trusting in our own efforts and endeavours.

I often hear about the problems that will be overcome by advances in our learning and our ability to deploy technology. But, if we’ve learned anything over the past two years, it is in rediscovering how little control we have over the future. Our endeavours are fragile, and our best laid schemes still gang aft a-gley.

And yet, as Christians, we are better off than Burns and his timorous companion. The poet wrote that, looking to the future, ‘tho’ I canna see, I guess an’ fear’. It is not new tech that saves us from that fate. It is faith in the one who knows the end from the beginning.

God promises wisdom to those who ask him for it (James 1:5), and through the ages he has used the church to fulfil this promise. I’m grateful to the Rev. Norman Mackay of Govan Free Church for his reflections on the wisdom that has been shared with him by fellow believers. May it be an encouragement to us to continue asking of God and building each other up as we face what lies ahead of us.

As ever, the way ahead is set out for us in that classic Sunday School memory verse, Proverbs 3:57. ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.’ •

10

FREE CHURCH NEWS New minister for London, Stirling Discrimination Case, Church's Response to Assisted Dying Consultation, WfM Update

14

WORLD NEWS U.S., U.K., Germany, Kenya, Iran, Nepal

16

REFLECTIONS ON THE WISDOM OF THE CHURCH Norman Mackay

19

PRAYER DIARY

20

HEART APOLOGETICS: CAN YOU DO GOOD WITHOUT GOD? Dayspring MacLeod

22

FROM THE ARCHIVES

24

REV. DUNCAN MACLEOD RETIRAL Al MacInnes

26

DAVID Donald Mackay

30

PLATES FROM THE PEWS

32

PAGES FROM ADAM'S DIARY: THE ANGEL IN THE SUPERMARKET

34

BOOK REVIEWS

36

MUSIC NEWS & REVIEWS

37

POETRY PAGE Irene Howat

If you have any news articles please send them to dayspring.macleod@icloud.com.

38

MISSION MATTERS David Meredith

Yours in Christ

39

DORAS DÒCHAIS Janet MacPhail

John

40 POST TENEBRAS LUX Catriona Murray

That in all things he might have the pre-eminence Colossians 1:18 2022

03

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

Stay Cu Photo by Kelly Sikima on Unsplash

BY THE EDITOR

THE RECORD

04

JANUARY

urious The quest for the knowledge of God

2022

05

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

‘S

tay hungry, stay foolish’, steve jobs told stanford university’s graduating class of 2005.

The CEO of Apple Computers and Pixar Animation Studios borrowed his aphorism from the Whole Earth Catalogue, a compendium of product reviews and essays which bridged 1970s counterculture and 1980s computer culture. Jobs, himself an icon of 2000s business culture, used the phrase to close a widely-lauded speech to Stanford’s graduates. From his position at the head of one of the world’s most successful companies, Jobs advised the next generation to find the motivation to succeed through dissatisfaction.

HUNGER By 2005, Steve Jobs was no longer actually hungry. He lacked nothing materially, and he had achieved his goal of rising to the top of the tech industry. But he sought to simulate the urgency of hunger. He also wanted to make daring decisions as if he still had nothing to lose – hence his desire to ‘stay foolish’. His underlying assumption was that comfort and contentment take the edge off work ethic and aspiration. He believed that those who find laurels to rest on cease to strive for progress.

Steve Jobs’ public profile and his devoted fanbase of tech consumers has made him a subject of biographers and screenwriters both before and The church is often plagued by inertia. since his death in 2011. A tale is told that, on being presented with a But the solution is not the restlessness prototype iPod — the gadget which of practised dissatisfaction. Instead, changed the music industry — Jobs took the device and dropped it is the wonder of honed curiosity. it into a fish tank. Observing some air bubbles escaping, he told his engineers that there must be unused space inside and so they should make it smaller. He has been accused of fearing failure, and of fearing mediocrity even more.

The problem is that the solution to mediocrity which Jobs proposed during his Stanford speech, to foster dissatisfaction, is devoid of hope. It does not look beyond the material. It does not allow for Sabbath rest. It does not offer any help in coping with adversity (unlike Paul’s theology - Philippians 4:11). As a result, for those not fortunate enough to end up as tech CEOs, and even for some of those who are, dissatisfaction can tip over into disillusionment.

And yet, Jobs did astutely diagnose a problem which, while damaging in business, is devastating in the church. Resting on one’s spiritual laurels brings complacency, lethargy and dulls the effectiveness of the church in the world.

INERTIA A.W. Tozer wrote, ‘there is little communion and little joy in the Lord. To have a cold heart with little piety, little fire, little love and little worship is spiritual lethargy.’ The Apostles were similarly concerned by torpor in the New Testament church. ‘So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober’, wrote Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:6). ‘The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber’ (Romans 13:11). Peter also cautioned that, given the perpetual presence of spiritual danger and opposition, believers must be alert and watchful (1 Peter 5:8).

Spiritual sleepiness poses no risk to our salvation. We are preserved by God’s grace and none can challenge the authority

THE RECORD

06

JANUARY

of his electing (John 10:28). But drowsiness diminishes our enjoyment of salvation, as well as the potency of our work for God’s kingdom.

In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis imagines an experienced devil instructing his nephew in how to lead a young man astray.

But the demonic work Lewis describes is not focussed on an unbeliever. Indeed, it is in only the second of the 31 ‘letters’ that the young man is converted to Christ. Later on, the elder devil writes, ‘The great thing is to prevent his doing anything.

As long as he does not convert it into action, it does not matter how much he thinks about this new repentance…Let him do anything but act. No amount of piety in his imagination and affections will harm us if we can keep it out of his will.’

Despite these wise warnings, the church is often plagued by inertia. It is as though the realities of sin and death are less compelling to us than the threat of mediocrity was to Steve Jobs. But the solution is not the restlessness of practised dissatisfaction. Instead, it is the wonder of honed curiosity.

CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER ‘Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last’, wrote Samuel Johnson — who was ‘arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history’, according to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. He valued curiosity for its tendency to expand his mind still further, and for the way it inspires the search for knowledge.

Contemporary academic studies suggest that curious people are happier, and research conducted by the University of California, Berkeley concludes that empathy is increased and relationships strengthened as a result of curiosity. Such is the post-Enlightenment view of curiosity. It is purely virtuous, and this is so because the pursuit of questions to which the answers were unknown has led to great works and discoveries in the arts The supreme benefits of this aspect of and the sciences. common grace are to be found when This may seem a less controversial conclusion curiosity’s quest for knowledge is than it really is, at least in directed towards God himself…Gaining historical context. In contrast to the Enlightenment’s breezy greater knowledge of God, and the optimism, the prevailing view of inspiration, amazement and happiness curiosity in the medieval church was largely negative. Bernard of such knowledge brings, are the true Clairvaux, a leading figure in 12thpurposes of curiosity. century Christian thought, wrote, ‘There are people who want to know solely for the sake of knowing, and that is scandalous curiosity.’ Such knowledge-seeking was equated with lust and linked to pride, and presumed to lead away from God rather than towards him. Ultimately, believers were discouraged from searching the Scriptures for themselves, an aberration not corrected until the Reformation.

Mediaeval scholars like Bernard traced their view of curiosity to St Augustine, though Augustine himself may not have recognised their conclusions. Certainly, the Bishop of Hippo wrote in detail on the subject, but he found more balance than either curiosity’s mediaeval sceptics or its Enlightenment adherents. For Augustine, whether curiosity was good or bad depended on how it was directed. ‘Free curiosity has greater

2022

07

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

power to stimulate learning than rigorous coercion’, he wrote.

‘Nevertheless, the free ranging flux of curiosity is channelled by discipline under Your Law’ (Confessions, Book I: 14). He counselled against indulging curiosity in trivial and insignificant matters, and warned against morbid curiosity, neither of which bring light to the mind nor glory to God. But, the supreme benefits of this aspect of common grace are to be found when curiosity’s quest for knowledge is directed towards God himself. Like Moses, whose interest was piqued when he said, ‘I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned’ (Exodus 3:3), St Augustine identifies the kindling of his own curiosity as a milestone in his life, and one which set him on the path towards his conversion.

After reading Cicero’s Hortensius, he writes, ‘All my empty dreams suddenly lost their charm and my heart began to throb with a bewildering passion for the wisdom of eternal truth. I began to climb out of the depths to which I had sunk, in order to return to [God]’ (Confessions, Book III:4). Gaining greater knowledge of God, and the inspiration, amazement and happiness such knowledge brings, are the true purposes of curiosity.

STAYING CURIOUS It is common to share St Augustine’s ‘passion for the wisdom of eternal truth’ in the early stages of our Christian walk. But that is no guarantee of avoiding lethargy later. Staying curious requires the thirst for knowledge to be well directed, as Augustine saw. It also requires ignorance to be both dispelled and discovered.

F.W. Boreham was a Baptist minister and prolific essayist who published throughout the first half of the 20th century.

In his essay, ‘The joy of ignorance’, Boreham observes the excitement that children experience in Not only do we have God’s the seemingly mundane — a stick picked up from the road, dandelions from the permission to ask anything of him, verge, each amazing because it is new. we also have a responsibility to Curiosity has its roots in ignorance — the mind which has concluded it knows enquire, and then to act. all it needs to is no longer curious. And curiosity is a means to a greater end. It results in knowledge. Discovery of a fresh dandelion may thrill a child out for a walk. But how much greater it is when ignorance is dispelled in place of deeper knowledge of the Lord, the God who made the heavens and the earth.

To the parents of the curious child, though, the stick and the weeds are nothing special. They have seen thousands of each.

Curiosity is satisfied by knowledge, and knowledge will dull our experience of wonder. This is even so for the truths of salvation.

But our gracious Heavenly Father knows that and has prepared for it. The full extent of his riches are unsearchable (Ephesians 3:8). There is always more human ignorance to discover, which sparks more curiosity. And, strangely, uniquely — gloriously — that fact is not overwhelming, even to the methodical mind.

That is because every new piece of knowledge about God is, in itself, wonderfully satisfying, feeding our souls on the richest of fare (Isaiah 55:2). The whole earth would not be able to contain all that could be written about Jesus’ work (John 21:25). We have an inexhaustible trove of treasures to explore and enjoy (Job 11:7).

THE RECORD

08

JANUARY

The final challenge to staying curious is in directing our curiosity. When Augustine noted that this was a problem for humanity, he did not have Google in his pocket. The information and attention industries which Steve Jobs helped to create serve us up a constant stream of intellectual fast food. Our God-given curiosity has so many directions it can look in — gossip on social media, tall tales streamed on TV and 24-hour news updates to continuously gorge on. Curiosity can easily be slaked, dulled, over-indulged, misdirected, wearied and burnt out. But God has provided for us here, too. We simply need to look up from the screen to see that ‘The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge’ (Psalm 19:1-2).

The Psalmist teaches us how to direct our curiosity: ‘I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands (Psalm 143:5).

ASK, SEEK, KNOCK As we concentrate our curiosity on God, are there any limits?

Are there any questions that we shouldn’t ask? Are there subjects that we shouldn’t broach for fear of introducing doubt? Perhaps palaeontology, or astronomy, or geology, or even philosophy?

By no means. We have confidence in God’s authority, sovereignty and Every new piece of knowledge goodness. We know it was he who about God is, in itself, wonderfully created everything from nothing, and he who keeps nature in order (Psalm satisfying, feeding our souls on 135:6-7). We trust him to give good gifts the richest of fare…We have an to his children, and not to test us with more than we can manage (1 Corinthians inexhaustible trove of treasures to 10:13). So we can ask. explore and enjoy.

God invites us to know him (John 17:3).

To ask of him (John 14:13). To search for him (Deuteronomy 4:29). To taste and see (Psalm 34:8). He gives wisdom generously, and without reproach (James 1:5).

No other religion’s god has the confidence to offer these things, neither does any secular idol. They keep their distance.

Like the Wizard of Oz, they hold their followers at arm’s length to prevent them from seeing what is behind the curtain. Our God tore the curtain in two. He knew the greater glory that was within, and he invites us into his presence to know it, too.

Not only do we have God’s permission to ask anything of him, we also have a responsibility to enquire, and then to act. Paul prayed that the Colossians would be ‘filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God’ (Colossians 1:9-10).

Albert Einstein said, ‘The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when one contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvellous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.’

Curiosity with a Christian mind will deepen our wonder towards God. It will steer us from spiritual lethargy. It will inspire us to action, to service, and to mission. ‘It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out’ (Proverbs 25:2). •

2022

09

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.

When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure, when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder, then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.

And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’

Photo: NASA

Job 28:24-28

THE RECORD

10

JANUARY

2022

11

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

FREE CHURCH NEWS A NEW MINISTER FOR LONDON

T

he congregation of london city presbyterian church (lcpc) is delighted to announce that the rev. andy longwe has accepted its call to serve as their minister.

Andy and his wife Marina have been serving the Cumbernauld congregation in the Glasgow and Argyll Presbytery.

Andy will join a ministry team with the Associate Minister, Harrison Perkins, and three elders, Gabriel Amorim, Adam de Jong, and Dick Haffenden.

The LCPC congregation reflects the diverse and cosmopolitan population of London. The congregation grew significantly during the ministry of the Rev. Andy Pearson (now serving in Dundee) and has continued to grow even after becoming vacant in March 2021.

Andy, Marina, Theo and Ellie will move to London in the New Year, with an induction service to be arranged. Please pray for the congregation and for Andy and his family as they prepare to leave Cumbernauld and settle in London. Pray that God would continue to use LCPC to build up God’s people and to reach out with the good news of Jesus Christ to the people of that great city.

The congregation of LCPC meets in St Botolph’s Church on Aldersgate, not far from St Paul’s Cathedral and next to the Museum of London. Sunday services are held at 11am and 5.30pm. •

STIRLING DISCRIMINATION CASE SETTLED

S

cotland’s

largest

grant-making

trust

of this case affirms that. The Trust has accepted that they broke the law and they have apologised to us.

We are grateful and relieved.’

Simon Calvert, Deputy Director for Public Affairs at The Christian Institute, which backed the claim against The Robertson Trust, said: ‘This settlement is another important reminder that if you discriminate against Christians for their beliefs, whether you do so in the workplace or the marketplace, you are probably breaking the law. Equality and human rights law firmly protects the ability of Christians to hold and express their beliefs, whether on sexual ethics or anything else.’

In the settlement, the Trustees of the Robertson Trust state, ‘They now regret and fully accept that in [cancelling the rental agreement for The Barracks conference venue] they inadvertently failed to meet their duties to the Free Church in terms of the Equality Act 2010, and therefore acted unlawfully. The Trustees apologise to the Free Church.’ •

has

formally apologised to stirling free church for unlawful discrimination.

The Robertson Trust settled a claim with Stirling Free Church after it cancelled a rental agreement solely on grounds of religion.

An agreed settlement has now been reached in which the Trust admits it ‘acted unlawfully’ and apologised to the church. It has also paid a substantial contribution towards legal costs.

The Rev. Iain Macaskill, minister of Stirling Free Church, commented: ‘It has been a long time coming but finally justice has been done. Our legal action was never about financial compensation.

It was about the principle. It is against the law to advertise a venue as being available to all-comers but then cancel the contract simply because the booking is for a religious event. Christians have the same legal rights as everyone else and the outcome

THE RECORD

12

JANUARY

RESPONSE TO ASSISTED DYING CONSULTATION

T

standard for how we die’; however, it would be a move in the wrong direction — a move away from excellent palliative care towards involving healthcare professionals in killing patients. It would result in a huge amount of pressure being placed on the most vulnerable in our society to end their lives, and in a more unjust society.

The Rev. Stephen Allison, co-ordinator of the group, said, ‘As a Christian church we are called to speak up for the vulnerable in our society (Proverbs 31:8-9) and accordingly, we cannot be silent but must speak clearly to warn of the inevitable harms associated with these proposals.’

The members of the Free Church’s Public Engagement Group of Scotland are fundamentally opposed to assisted suicide because it devalues human life, places undue pressure on the vulnerable and is open to abuse and incremental extension. They believe life is a gift from God and that those suffering deserve our compassion and care. Accordingly, they are calling for more palliative care and proper emotional and spiritual support for those facing death, and their loved ones. The Public Engagement Group is urging members of the Scottish Parliament to reject Liam McArthur’s proposals •.

he public engagement group of the free church of scotland has responded to the consultation on liam mcarthur’s proposed assisted dying for

terminally ill adults (scotland) bill.

The group welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the public debate on matters surrounding assisted dying. They indicated that they agreed with Liam McArthur that it is vital as we emerge from the pandemic that we seek as a society to ‘create a new standard for how we die’; that there is a need for much greater investment in palliative care for those facing death and support for their family and friends; and that a truly compassionate and just society would recognise that all life has intrinsic value and dignity — regardless of our circumstances. It would seek to do all that we can to care well for the whole person.

The Public Engagement Group, in their response, stated that a proposal for ‘assisted dying’ should seek to address all of the many complex needs surrounding end-of-life care. However, the Group argues that Liam McArthur’s proposal is wrongly focused exclusively on what should be called ‘assisted suicide’. It is true that introducing assisted suicide into law would ‘create a new

WfM UPDATE

T

BY FIONA MACASKILL any of these lying around, then even tomato-ketchupstained copies can raise a tidy sum for the project!

There is another group of Inverness ladies who have been selling crafts and other goods for the WfM over several Saturdays in November and December and they made £400 in two hours at Culbokie Indoor Market.

The Stornoway ladies also held a Bake and Craft fair in December, but after the print deadline, so you will have to watch this space to find out how that went.

If you follow our social media pages you will hopefully have seen the adverts for our hamper giveaway. We are delighted with the amazing products donated to us by talented individuals. By the time you are reading this there should be some very happy winners!

With all these amazing fundraising efforts, so far our total is standing at £10,300 by mid-December.

Thanks so much everyone. Keep it up.

We are already looking for ideas for this year’s project and would love to hear from you if you have any particular groups or charities you think would benefit from receiving funds. They must be a registered UK charity.

Please keep an eye on our website, Facebook and Instagram pages to see updates on this year’s project and previous groups and individuals whom we have supported. •

he people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned…

Not your usual January Bible quote, I hear you say. As I write this, less than two weeks before the shortest day of the year, darkness feels very much all-encompassing. It is a cold rain falling outside and the news feels heavy and burdensome, but there is the light of the constant reality that our God is in control. The light who can shine in the deepest darkness and knows the burdens of our hearts.

By the time you read this the Christmas pies will have been eaten and the turkey (or lack of one if you are to believe the shortage scare stories) will be just a distant memory. The God who sent his Son into the world over 2000 years ago to shed light into the darkness of our sin has not forgotten us, though. He calls us to show his light to others in the way in which we lead our lives here on earth. It has been so encouraging in the last few weeks to hear of the amazing ways in which the people of the church are raising funds for our current project, Hope for the Hurting. Let me share just a few of them with you now.

The ladies of the Black Isle have been busy recently and at the time of going to press had raised an impressive £1,600 from their craft fair. They were auctioning a rare copy of book 1 of Favourite Recipes. If anyone has

2022

13

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

WORLD NEWS

AMERICAS AFRICA EUROPE ASIA AUSTRALASIA RACHAEL DENHOLLANDER AWARDED 2021 KUYPER PRIZE Author and activist Rachael Denhollander has been awarded the 2021 Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Life by Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The annual prize honours an outstanding contribution in the recipient’s ‘chosen sphere’ of society.

Denhollander is a lawyer and former gymnast. She was the first woman to publicly accuse Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics team doctor, of sexual assault. Her stand encouraged others to come forward, and Nassar has since been tried and convicted of his crimes. Denhollander is the author of What is a Girl Worth?, published in 2019. She continues to support and advocate for victims of sexual abuse.

‘We so often confine theology to the four walls of church and home. We don’t look at how theology shapes issues we face every day,’ said Rachael Denhollander in a press release. ‘To marry Kuyper’s work to what’s taking place in the public square right now on many levels is incredibly challenging, but Calvin [University] has long had a history of making place and priority for these conversations. It’s a place with a rich understanding of faith and application of theology. So, to be part of that tradition in some small way is deeply humbling.’ •

MONTHLY CHURCH ATTENDANCE ‘NEW NORMAL’

LEGAL CHALLENGE TO PRAYER VIGIL BAN

An Evangelical Alliance study suggests UK church attendance has fallen by a third since the pandemic, and many people who are still going to church are doing so less frequently. Of the survey’s respondents, 92% reported going to church every week pre-pandemic, whereas only 68% continue to attend weekly. Meanwhile, a quarter of the churches who took part said they are no longer providing a youth ministry and 17% no longer have any children’s ministry.

Stewart McCulloch, chief executive of Stewardship, who assisted with the research, said that ‘falls in attendance have brought a financial toll as well, but the solution here is not financial, but evangelistic.’

More than 40% of respondents to the study said that a lack of significant relationships with non-Christians was the main barrier to them sharing their faith. 25% cited fear of rejection or appearing different, while 20% said they were unsure of how to answer difficult questions about their faith.

Evangelical Alliance’s head of mission to young adults, Phil Knox, said, ‘We know from other pieces of research that there is an openness to the gospel at this time and the most common pathway to faith is through a Christian friend. This research highlights the need for every church to prioritise inspiring every member to be a great friend and equipping them to be able to share their faith.’ •

ADF International, a Christian legal advocacy organisation, is supporting Pavica Vojnović, leader of the ‘40 Days for Life’ campaign group in Pforzheim, Germany, to challenge a prohibition against silent prayer gatherings near an abortion centre.

Vojnović and her group had been holding prayer gatherings twice a year. In 2019, their permission to gather within sight of the Pro Familia clinic was revoked by local government. In May this year, a lower court dismissed the group’s legal challenge, but now the Administrative Court of Appeals (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) has agreed to hear the appeal.

‘It’s discouraging to hear that silent prayer vigils in a public place are restricted by local authorities’, Pavica Vojnović. ‘Our society must offer better support to mothers in difficult situations. This is about more than our group in Pforzheim. It’s about whether prayer-free zones are lawful, or whether one is allowed to represent different opinions in the public square.’

Felix Böllmann, Senior Counsel for ADF International, said: ‘It’s encouraging that the court sees merit in the case. Hopefully, it will grasp this opportunity to uphold freedom of expression, assembly and religion.’ •

THE RECORD

14

JANUARY

SYMPOSIA TO TACKLE HARMFUL THEOLOGIES The All Africa Conference of Churches is an umbrella organisation with Protestant denominations, theological institutions and Christian NGOs among its members. Founded in 1963, the AACC has supported churches to play a part in decolonisation and nation-building across Africa, including the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa.

In recent years, the AACC has held a series of theological symposia to counter theological mistakes that are harming Christians in congregations throughout the continent.

‘If we don’t pay attention, (misleading theologies) will undermine human dignity and put the lives of people at stake,’ the Rev. Bosela Eale of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, AACC’s director of theology, told the most recent symposium, held in November in Nairobi.

Previous conferences have addressed power and authority – including religious freedom and government regulation of religious organisations – and wealth and poverty, including an emphasis on countering the ‘prosperity gospel’.

The latest focus is on health and healing. Many observers of the church in Africa consider faith healing to be the root of significant theological error and social and spiritual harm. Examples abound of pastors claiming an ability to heal disability, infertility and disease, from HIV/AIDS to Covid-19.

‘All these pronunciations, fake testimonies and things like these are really destructive. They are not lifegiving, but life-frustrating,’ the Rev. Fidon Mwombeki, a Tanzanian Lutheran pastor who is the general secretary of the AACC, told Religion News Service.

Monica Nambaba works for the Africa Christian Health Associations Platform. She told attendees at the latest symposium that false teaching on health has resulted in tragedy. ‘Some people with conditions such as HIV have died after religious leaders told them to stop medication after attending healing prayers.’ But Nambaba believes that church also has a vital role to play in tackling the problem. ‘If the religious leaders can use their platforms to correct this, it will go a long way in helping the communities,’ she concluded. •

2022

IRANIAN HOUSE CHURCHES DEEMED LEGAL Ruling on the case of nine Iranian converts to Christianity who were sentenced to five years in prison in 2019 and are now eligible for release, Supreme Court justice Seyed-Ali Eizadpanah wrote, ‘Merely preaching Christianity, and…propagating Christianity through family gatherings [house-churches] is not a manifestation of gathering and collusion to disrupt the security of the country, whether internally or externally.

‘The promotion of Christianity and the formation of a housechurch is not criminalised in law.’

This is particularly significant because arguments based on national security have been used in the cases of more than 20 Christians currently in prison in Iran as a result of their involvement in house churches.

Article18, a UK-based organisation which promotes religious freedom in Iran, says this recent development comes as a surprise and ‘has the potential to become a landmark ruling’. However, they caution that the ruling alone does not establish a legal precedent.

The case will now be sent to a lower court, where another judge may disregard the Supreme Court decision. Such an outcome would leave open the possibility of an appeal returning to the Supreme Court, and at this point a precedent could be set which would have influence on other, similar cases.

Observers have suggested that international negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme could be behind this apparent softening. In addition, two of the nine Christians involved in the case, and another Christian serving a separate sentence related to leading a house church, sent an open letter and video messages in the week prior to the Court’s decision. In these messages, they pointed out that they had nowhere but a house church in which to worship, given that some church buildings have been closed, and others can only be used by those born into Christian families – converts are not permitted.

Article18’s advocacy director, Mansour Borji, told Christianity Today that Iran’s revolutionary court may accept Justice Eizadpanah’s decision for the sake of Iran’s international image. ‘But this will only be a painkiller for a serious malady,’ he warns. ‘We shouldn’t be overly optimistic that this represents a radical change toward Christians.’ •

NEPALESE PASTOR JAILED International Christian Concern reports that Pastor Keshav Raj Acharya has been sentenced to two years in prison and fined 20,000 Rupees (£125) for contravening Nepal’s anti-conversion law. He was charged with proselytizing and distributing Christian tracts.

Nepal’s ban on evangelising is relatively recent. A new constitution was adopted in 2015 which included a clause prohibiting attempts to convert others. In 2018, the government reflected this Article in the criminal code by attaching a prison sentence of up to five years to the act of converting, or encouraging the conversion, of another person.

William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia, said the group is ‘deeply concerned by the conviction of Pastor Acharya.

‘Since the new constitution was adopted in 2015, Nepalese Christians have been concerned that Article 26 and its enacting laws would be used to target their community… Nepal’s sweeping anti-conversion law must be repealed if religious freedom is truly a right to be enjoyed by the country’s citizens.’ •

15

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

BY REV NORMAN MACKAY

REFLECTIONS ON THE OF THE CHURCH G

od’s word studied and practised provides us not only with the pathway to salvation,

but with wisdom for living. An additional source of guidance can be found in the lived experience of those within the church. Recently I was recalling advice gleaned from other Christians over many years. Below are short reflections shared with, overheard by or read by me. For the most part the person sharing these thoughts had no idea just how valuable and helpful they would prove to be. I share them in the hope that they will be a blessing to many others too.

IN RELATION TO OURSELVES

Photo by Alex Chute on Unsplash

Even as believers many of us have a tendency to view the Lord as a hard taskmaster.

When seeking God’s guidance we are often tempted to assume that, given a choice between two or more options, the one that involves the greatest hardship or sacrifice will in all likelihood be the right path.

Principle: God’s way is not always the hardest way.

We are FULLY human, not SUPER human.

The picture of the Christian in the Bible is that of one whose humanity, including our weakness and pain, is sanctified to God’s purposes, not a stumbling block to his purposes.

Principle: Very often it is good for us to share in the struggles of those outside of the faith.

Only then can we truly empathise with others in pain, yet speak of God’s upholding grace in the midst of these trials.

Which is the most difficult?

Is it to ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice’ or ‘Weep with those who weep’? The rejoicing is a greater test of our heart’s condition.

Principle: The world knows something of weeping for those less fortunate than ourselves.

For that reason multitudes of philanthropic charities exist with no reference to Christ at all. Rejoicing in the success of others upon whom greater recognition and more honour is bestowed requires genuine Christ-like humility.

THE RECORD

16

JANUARY

IN RELATION TO THE CHURCH Beware when the Church starts to speak a whole new language.

The spiritual dynamics that lie behind the growth and advance of the Church never alter.

Incarnational presence, cross-bearing sacrifice, servant leadership and spiritual conflict represent the heartbeat that undergirds our mission to the world. These were the truths that the great missionaries such as Adoniram Judson and Hudson Taylor acted upon.

Principle: The gospel is not a product we are selling to an excited consumer in a safe and sanitised showroom. It is truth, light and righteousness in a life-long spiritual conflict with error, darkness and unrighteousness. Be alarmed when the ideas and principles of secular business or marketing begin to shape our vision and decisions concerning church outreach, growth and expansion. We live in a society where denominational and church leaders are increasingly influenced by a culture of ‘risk aversion.’ Although this seems ‘wise’ by the world’s standards, it can sometimes be a modern representation of the fear and unbelief of the ten spies in the days of Caleb and Joshua.

We can sin in the area of our strengths and anointing.

Often we imagine that Satan will tempt us in the area of our weakness. This can be true, but is not the whole picture. Isaiah confessed to being a man of unclean lips. Yet as a prophet his lips represented the area of his anointing by God. Principle: Because God has given us a gift or talent does not mean that it cannot be misused.

In self-examination be alert to this possibility.

When we get close to people we have the potential to harm them.

Eve and Adam were very close. In every sense they were perfect partners, and each was a gift from God to the other. Being alone is not a good thing, we are told, and so God placed two people in a close and intimate relationship. However, rather than protect each other, they did not seek each other’s good, neither did they function so as to keep each other safe in the will of God. Principle: When getting close to people who open their hearts and lives to us, we need to make sure that our influence is for good, and that we are constantly seeking the person’s welfare.

Additionally we should perhaps listen to Jordan Peterson’s exhortation in his book 12 Rules For Life to ‘Make friends with people who want the best for you’ (chapter 3).

IN RELATION TO SERVICE We can serve even when our own need is greater.

In John 13 we read of Jesus being conscious of his impending departure from the world and his return to the Father. This return, however, is by way of Gethsemane and the Cross, and in the context of his betrayal by Judas Iscariot and abandonment by the disciples. Yet at this very point Jesus washes the feet of his weary followers.

Principle: There are times when God calls upon us to minister to the needs of others, even when overwhelmed by greater needs ourselves. And with that he is pleased.

We can win hearts or steal hearts.

Absalom ascended the throne using his natural cunning and powers of manipulation. Through flattery and a feigned concern for the welfare of others he gradually drew unsuspecting Israelites under his spell and influence. Thus we are told he ‘stole’ the hearts of the people. King David, on the other hand, ‘won’ the hearts of the people.

Principle: Godly leadership aims at winning people’s hearts by serving and shepherding them.

Ungodly leadership steals people’s hearts by exploiting and manipulating them.

You don’t need to have the same social background as others to share the gospel with them effectively.

It is often assumed that in order to reach out effectively to others we must have a great deal in common with them in terms of social background and life experience. This is frequently flagged up as a barrier to church planting in, for example, housing schemes. We don’t have the same background as people in certain areas, therefore we feel we cannot ‘identify’ with or minister to them. However this is quite false.

Principle: Jesus touched the hearts of individuals with whom he had virtually nothing in common socially, ethically, and ethnically. Genuine love, authenticity and transparency, irrespective of our background, are the key to winning others to Christ.

2022

17

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

A PROMISE NOT GIVEN God did not promise that in a life of service lived for and offered up to him our hearts would not be broken, or that we would always be rewarded visibly and obviously this side of glory.

Hebrews 11:1-34 lists a great gallery of heroes victorious in their experience and expression of faith. However, from verse 35 our attention is drawn to the fate of those whose lives, though equally faithful, testify to a less publicly vindicated outcome. The writer tells us, There were others (v36).

Principle: There are times in God’s providence when in return for our faithfulness we might see very little personal vindication compared to the affirmation experienced by others. Consequently it is very easy to assume that others who seem to have lost out had a less vital faith than those whose exploits are heralded and affirmed on a more public stage. Perhaps we are best to leave our assessment of people’s contribution to God’s Kingdom to Christ on the great day to come.

IN RELATION TO PROVIDENCE When we cannot trace God’s hand we can always trust his heart.

These words of Spurgeon highlight that it is not always obvious to us what God is doing in a given situation. Sometimes he is advancing the cause of many things all at once through one set of circumstances. When our boys were very young they were taken to the doctor for MMR vaccinations. The surgery was unwelcome, the nurses unfamiliar and the needle painful. I recall one of them looking at me as if to ask why I was allowing this hurt to be introduced into his life. There was an explanation, as we all know, but not one that he would have understood at that time. Only later did he come to understand why this was ‘good, perfect and acceptable’.

Principle: God’s purposes are often multi-layered, and we will not always see all that he is accomplishing. Yet his character and steadfast love can always be trusted. This is the focus of our faith; not our insights or understanding of his providence.

The later stages of life can be as blessed and fruitful as our younger days.

Time and again we come to see that God’s greatest blessings and fuller revelation are often reserved for the later stages of our Christian lives. Whether we are speaking of the Apostle John on Patmos, Job at the conclusion of his trials or Naomi who ‘went out full and came back empty’, multitudes of elderly friends can testify to this truth.

Principle: God’s blessing and steadfast love do not fade as our health, vigour and strength wane. God’s manna was provided daily as nourishment for old and young alike.

A pattern in our sanctification God can make us strong in the areas of life where we have known great weakness.

Abraham, intimidated by the famine, went down to Egypt. Yet he became the man of faith. Moses was harsh as he struck the rock. He became the meekest man in all the earth. Gideon hid, fearful and afraid. He became a great leader calling on others to ‘follow me.’ Onesimus in the book of Philemon was ‘useless’ yet he became ‘useful’ to Paul, the Church and the Lord. John was a ‘son of thunder’ calling down fire from heaven, but was ultimately to be known as the apostle of love.

Principle: A good prayer is one that asks the Lord to draw our attention to specific habits, areas of our lives, or flaws in our personality that are the most at odds with his sanctifying purposes. Find the part(s) of his Word that addresses whatever this is, memorise this and act upon the Word constantly to progressively replace that vice with a virtue. • Norman Mackay is minister of Govan Free Church

THE RECORD

18

JANUARY

JAN/FEB 2022 PRAYER DIARY Please send requests to Dayspring MacLeod (dayspring.macleod@ icloud.com). This month we will praying for all kinds of evangelistic outreach, from the Christian music produced by Free Church members to isolated missionaries taking the gospel to far-off lands.

Wed 12th — Sat 15th Pray for Christians in the Madang province of Papua New Guinea, where thugs called the Headwater Gang have attacked isolated Christians with very little ability to communicate with the outside world.

Church members have been severely injured, taken hostage and buildings burned, but further details are still emerging. Ask the Lord to protect His people, and that even the gang will see the truth and redemption of Jesus Christ.

Sun 30th — Tues 1st Feb While Iranian house churches have now been deemed legal by one judge, others have warned that this permission may be challenged in other courts, and that it will not amount to a form of legal, easily accessible Christian worship. Nevertheless give thanks for this encouraging indication, and pray it may be used to open the door for Christians to live safely and worship openly in Iran, offering hope to many who still have not heard about Jesus.

Sun 16th — Tues 18th New music has recently come out from Alex MacDonald, the WfM charity album, Irene Howat and Ruth Campbell, and The Daughters, all of which have active or strong Free Church connections. Pray that these would be to the glory of God and be able to point unbelievers to Him and start good conversations.

Wed 2nd — Fri 4th Pray for Andy Longwe and his family as they move down to fill the vacancy at London City. This is a really precious congregation, far away from most of the Free Church — please pray that God uses them to bless people throughout the city, and that the Longwes will have much joy there too.

Wed 19th — Sat 22nd We carry the sad news this month that Pastor Keshav Raj Acharya has been imprisoned in Nepal due to a new anti-evangelising law. Ask the Lord to strengthen him and use him in prison, to provide for and comfort his family, and to enable his colleagues to continue spreading the Good News even in the face of danger. Pray especially for our own Suraj, that the Lord would keep him safe and give him great power in speaking of Jesus.

Sat 5th — Tues 8th Pray for the staff and contributors of The Record! We are a small publication but passionate about what we do. Ask God to give us energy, encouragement, and above all that everything we write or design would be informed by a deep love of Jesus and a longing to make Him known throughout Scotland and beyond.

May the Lord use this magazine to speak truth to unbelievers and build up the Church.

Wed 9th — Fri 11th Pray for your own ministers, church planters, and all your leadership team. It is hard continuing in ministry day after day, year after year. Ask our Lord to grant them pure hearts and protection from temptation, wisdom and grace to deal with every situation, unity of purpose to point others to Jesus, and a great closeness to Him and awareness of the Holy Spirit carrying them on in seasons of weariness.

Sun 23rd — Tues 25th Continue to pray for Adam. He has shared many stories of the Lord’s amazing providence and presence throughout his ministry. Ask that he will remain close to God and trusting continually on Him, and that his work for the Kingdom will be blessed. May we all be ready and seeking God to work in such power through our own lives.

Wed 26th — Sat 29th Pray for 20schemes, which has planted many churches in the past few years in some of Scotland’s most deprived communities. Their ministers, workers and planters have gone to live among the people they’re serving and in some cases have sacrificed to do so; their ministry is unceasing every hour of the day and night. Ask the Lord to give them much fruit in transformed lives and neighbourhoods, and refreshment in His loving care of them.

2022

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Phil. 2:1-2 ESV

19

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

Heart Apologetics: Can You Be Good Without God?

DAYSPRING MACLEOD ponders the prosperity of the wicked

©Drobot Dean - stock.adobe.com

I

f you have read a few of these apologetic articles,

There are seasons when God Himself feels distant, theoretical, the Bible dry, prayer futile. You keep at it, but you wonder deep down, Why am I doing this?

Even without God I could still be a good person, like my non-Christian friends.

To answer this question, the best place to start is the chapter before the parable of the labourers – Matthew 19. So often the context of a parable brings home its point.

Most of chapter 19 is about worthiness to enter heaven. Jesus demonstrates to the rich young ruler where his treasure really lies, and then astonishes the apostles by telling them it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven (because his security is on earth). The apostles ask, ‘Who then can be saved?’

In those days, as in ‘prosperity gospel’ circles now, wealth was considered a mark of God’s favour. If anyone was going to heaven, it must be the ones who seemed to be doing the best on earth! Peter immediately realises that, if even these prosperous, righteous, favoured ones weren’t able to get to heaven, what hope for him? ‘See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ There’s that question again.

What’s in it for us?

Jesus replies, ‘Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.’

There are quite a few points we can take from this.

you will know that i start out by asking provocative

questions. This is one that is asked repeatedly in the Bible: ‘Why do I feel so discouraged about following God when the unbelievers seem to be doing just fine?’

Psalm 73 is a cry of anguish by a Jewish believer who is outraged by the blessings enjoyed by corrupt and wicked people. He is exhausting himself trying to serve God and maintain a pure heart (v13-14), but seems to get nothing in return. Meanwhile he sees hedonists having a grand old time, not a care in the world.

Jonah is furious when the Ninevites listen to his call of repentance and experience the Lord’s mercy.

In the parable of the labourers (Matt. 20:1-16), Jesus assumes we are prone to resentment of our spiritual sacrifices. The owner of a vineyard calls labourers throughout the course of a day, and in the evening pays them each the same wages regardless of how long they have laboured. ‘And when they had received it, they grumbled against the owner, saying, ‘These last have only worked on hour, and you have made them equal with us, who bore the burden and heat of the day.’ The owner replies, ‘Am I not permitted to do what I want with what is mine?’

These examples can all sound a little distant and theoretical: day labourers and the crimes of the Assyrian empire are not our day-to-day reality.

What does the envy of the wicked look like in the 21st century?

A corrupt politician lies openly and refuses to obey the laws and principles he himself has set forth. He grows in popularity.

A celebrity with a career built on utter immorality and impurity posts Instagram-perfect photos of her perfect family in her beautiful remodelled home, and labels it #blessed.

A random friend you met at the gym is not only a ‘good person’, he’s kinder and more considerate toward you than anyone at your church.

An atheist acquaintance narrowly misses getting hit by a car and immediately says ‘Someone up there is looking out for me!’

Meanwhile, in your Christian life, you sacrifice time, money, interests, desires. You risk your job to maintain a witness. You lose a relationship when you confront someone’s sin. You feel let down by the church.

THE RECORD

20

JANUARY

We are not always measuring the right ‘rewards’. Why do we expect spiritual effort to be rewarded with earthly gain or happiness? They belong to different spheres. For example, Jesus referenced the ‘hundredfold brothers or sisters and father and mother and children’. Many of us in the church can testify to the huge family gained – all across the world – even if natural family relationships come under strain due to our faith. We are not always properly grateful for these spiritual blessings, looking for an easy life here instead of the rewards God wants us to value.

We make service about ourselves, not about God. ‘What then will we have?’ should take a far distant place to ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ God is utterly other to us in His holiness. He is the Creator, the Master and the Saviour. Yet we tend to think of our service to Him as doing a friend a big favour, or putting in our time ‘on duty’, not as returning thanks for all we have received.

Common grace is for everyone. Psalm 145:9 says ‘The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.’ Matthew 5:45 reminds us that He sends sunshine and rain on the just and the unjust. God is so good that He bursts out with goodness upon all His creation, and that goodness is a testimony to them of who He is. If unbelievers had nothing but misery and torment, and believers nothing but plenty and ease, I suppose that would look more like the afterlife than the life of this world. Nor is it a ‘coincidence’ if an atheist narrowly misses a car accident. Why would we think that God would not also intervene to help unbelievers? We all were one once. Perhaps He is giving another opportunity for them to turn to Him. Outer goodness is not the same as godliness. We all know ‘good’ people who aren’t Christians – good according to their own standards, and even to ours. But not according to God’s standards. Niceness is not the same as the moral perfection He requires. And even if it were, ‘Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.’ We don’t see people’s hidden sins. We don’t see their guilt and hopelessness – and so often, as a result, we fail to offer them the true hope we have found.

I started out by mentioning Psalm 73. I love the last few verses, concluding the writer’s fretting over the prosperity of the wicked. ‘I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. So foolish was I, and ignorant; I was like a beast before you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you have held me by my right hand. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside you. My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever’ (vv 17-26, KJV; I have condensed the passage for space). What a great picture of a believer reawakened to a true perspective, perhaps after a time of valuing worldly things, perhaps after a time of spiritual dryness.

My ‘reasoning through’ our gain from Christ is of limited value, because this passage provides the answer all on its own. Unbelievers may look like they have it all together from the outside, but their inward guilt and struggles and fears, and ultimate destruction, have no solution. We have our refuge, our comfort, our counsel, our glory and our future all through faith in Jesus. Psalm 73 ends with our proper response as we look away from the wicked and turn our gaze back on the Lord: praise and testimony. ‘But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all your works.’ •

2022

21

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

FROM THE ARCHIVES 100 YEARS – JANUARY 1921 A MESSAGE FROM ST KILDA

I

t may be news to many of our readers that the free church has warm friends in st kilda ,

and that The Monthly Record and The Instructor regularly find their way to the island. In a letter recently received by the former Editor of The Record from a St Kilda correspondent, reference is made to the writer’s interest in the progress which ‘our dear Free Church is making in all its branches at home and abroad’.

The greater part of the letter is occupied with an account of the great storm which swept over the island on the 15th November. It appears to have been the most terrific hurricane experienced within living memory, and notwithstanding serious losses, the people are thankful that they are alive to tell the tale.

The tempest raged for eighteen hours, and swept away the roofs of houses and barns, and also did a great deal of damage to corn and other crops.

We take this opportunity of expressing sincere sympathy with our friends in St Kilda, and of sending them the Church’s cordial greetings. •

40 YEARS – JANUARY 1981 FROM HERE AND THERE

M

iss florrie donaldson , the efficient administrator of colegio san andrés , returns to peru later this month .

Owing to the brevity of her previous home leaves (voluntarily shortened in the interests of the work in Peru), the church in Scotland has seen very little of Miss Donaldson. But this time she did pay us a longer visit, and several of the Northern Presbyteries appreciated the opportunity of meeting her and learning more of her work in school and church in Lima.

In February Miss Donaldson completes 30 years of missionary service, for which we give God thanks. This also leads us to express our gratitude afresh to our good friends of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ireland, of which Miss Donaldson is a member. Such fellowship in the work of the Gospel overseas is a precious privilege, and also helps to strengthen home ties between two like-minded churches.

Miss Elizabeth Ferrier, who has gone out as a volunteer to help in the Lakhnadon Hospital in India, had a very adventurous and unexpectedly prolonged journey.

An extra night in Holland was perhaps a pleasant bonus, but three extra days in Kabul in Afghanistan are hardly what the tourist brochures would offer you these days as an enticement to air travel.

However, she eventually got to Delhi, and succeeded in making her own way to Lakhnadon through what was, to her, completely alien territory. Since the Lord has brought her safely there, we are sure he has valuable work for her to do in aiding our missionary staff in the hospital. Elizabeth hopes to be back in this country by the end of February in order to take up a nursing appointment in Inverness. •

10 YEARS – JANUARY 2011 BACK TO THE FUTURE

O

n friday the 19th of november at approximately 5pm, it became clear that the free church of scotland had made a momentous decision, which was as dramatic as it was surprising.

The Plenary Assembly decided to allow congregations to use instrumental music and other items of praise that are biblically and confessionally sound…

We had prayed that the Assembly would know the mind of the Lord. It appears to me, not just because I agree with the decision but also because of the way in which it was made, that we received an answer to our prayers.

There is a real possibility of this being a new beginning for the Free Church, with an opportunity for us not to throw away the legacy and traditions of both the more recent and more distant past, but rather to build upon them. We pray that the cycle of decline will be broken and that the Scottish church (not just the Free Church) would be renewed, revived and restored. - The Rev. David Robertson •

THE RECORD

22

JANUARY

50 YEARS – JANUARY 1971 SOWING THE WORD

D

the table at Churchill) ‘wheresoever thou goest we go, and where thou lodgest we lodge, they people shall be our people, thy God, our God, even unto the end’.”

‘That was all. He sat down in dead silence.

Churchill’s eyes welled up in tears. Here was the first news that the United States was throwing in its weight upon the Allied side.’

This story reminds us of Timothy, who from childhood had learned the Scriptures from his grandmother and mother. Little could that great grandmother in Auchterarder have imagined what fruit was destined to spring from her faithful sowing of the Word. She must have had a particular liking for the Book of Ruth from which Mr Hopkins drew the words which so deeply stirred Churchill and proved to be as a lamp in a very dark night.

It is a story that encourages us to be faithful in the sowing of the Word in the hearts and minds of our children. God said of old, ‘My Word shall not return unto me void’. In strange ways, in unexpected times, but always at the appropriate moment, the Holy Spirit brings to light again the Word that has been planted long, long years ago.

One is reminded of a very wise word spoken by a character in The Heart of Midlothian, the most moving of Sir Walter Scott’s books — ‘Jock, when ye hae naething else to do, ye may be aye sticking in a tree, it will be growing, Jock, when ye’re sleeping.’ Wonderful counsel that for old and young. Sowing the Word is like planting a tree. It is setting something in the heart that goes on living, even when for a time we may forget it.

There are few live so busy but what they have leisure moments and idle hours, which could be utilised in the reading and memorising of Scripture.

This was the counsel of Moses to his people, ‘These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up’ (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Solomon stressed the same truth in Proverbs 6:20-22, ‘My son, keep the father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakes, it shall talk with thee’.

Christ loved the Scriptures. He quoted from them feelingly and lovingly. He urged his disciples to search them. They are the best investment a believing soul can make. Their dividends are beyond the price of rubies. •

uring the darkest days of the second world war , when many americans were persuaded that

britain

was

doomed ,

president

roosevelt sent one of his closest friends over to

and to report back to him about the morale of the British people. For, despite the pessimistic reports of Mr Kennedy, the United States’ Ambassador to Britain, the President was not persuaded that Britain was about to follow the way of France.

While Mr Hopkins was anxious to find out how the British people felt about the war, the British people, and Churchill in particular, were eager to know the intentions of the Americans. But Harry Hopkins was not giving anything away. Moreover, he was a sick man. His very frailty however seemed to sharpen his shrewd powers of observation.

Even Churchill found it impossible to draw from Hopkins any clue as to his impressions, and the kind of secret reports he was sending back to Roosevelt. But, where even the great Churchill failed, a canny Scot succeeded.

He was Mr Thomas Johnston, the Secretary of State in the War Cabinet, to whom Churchill gave the hard task of trying to find out something at least of America’s intentions. Johnston hurriedly arranged a private dinner in a Glasgow hotel for the distinguished guest. At the table, the clever Scot gathered from Hopkins that his great grandmother has been born at Auchterarder, Perthshire — and that was enough to enable Johnston to play upon the heart of even the hardest statesman.

There were the usual toasts to the king and the president followed by a few words from two or three of the dignitaries. In view of the secret nature of Mr Hopkins’ mission it was hardly to be expected that he would be asked to speak.

But Johnston, who was acting as chairman, suggested that, as the gathering was informal, with no reporters present, Mr Hopkins might care to say a word — and very cleverly touched off the invitation by telling the company that Mr Hopkins’ great grandmother had been a native of Auchterarder.

The rest of the story is best told in Johnston’s book of memories, ‘Slowly Mr Hopkins arose. I can see his white, drawn face yet. Then came from him something like this, “Mr Chairman, I am not making speeches over here. I am reporting what I see to Mr Franklin Delano Roosevelt, my President, a great man, a very great man. But now I am here on my feet perhaps I might say in the language of the Old Book to which my great grandmother from Auchterarder paid so much attention, that (and here Hopkins paused and looked straight down make a personal investigation of conditions

2022

23

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

THE RECORD

24

JANUARY

Rev Duncan Macleod: 38 Years of Faithful Gospel Ministry

BY AL MACINNES

T

Duncan encouraged the leadership to take a step of faith in their plans for a building project that would, over time, significantly change and enhance the way that the church building was to be used to reach the wider community. This work is currently in its third and final stage.

Under Duncan’s leadership, the congregation is being revitalised, and whilst undergoing cultural change, has striven to always keep the great commission as its focus — to obediently know Christ, to grow in Christ, and to go for Christ.

In all of the work that Duncan and Morag carried out in Dornoch, they will both be remembered for their quiet humility and for the way that they tirelessly encouraged everyone to seek to know Jesus as their saviour. We are all sinners saved by grace, as we were often and necessarily reminded.

On Sunday 28th November, the Dornoch Free Church building was full as Duncan preached his final sermon as minister of the congregation.

Retiring after 38 years of ministry, Duncan’s sermon was based on the same passage that he had preached from at his first Sunday in Dornoch, ten years ago to the day. He urged the congregation to focus on the good news of God shown to us through Jesus coming to save sinners just like us. He encouraged them to not only accept this good news for themselves, but to ensure that they show and share this love with the community around them.

Duncan and his family will be greatly missed in Dornoch, but leave behind the legacy of a warm and growing family of believers in Dornoch Free Church. The congregation unite in wishing them God’s rich blessing in all that lies ahead. •

he dornoch free church congregation recently held a retirement reception in the clashmore hall, dornoch for the rev. duncan macleod

and his family. More than a hundred friends and family

came together to honour and thank the Lord for Duncan’s ministry.

Duncan started his pastoral work in Helmsdale Free Church in 1983, where he served for 13 years. It was during these years that Duncan met and married Morag, and their three children were born: Rachel, Donald, and Katy. As a family they have retained many strong relationships with friends in Helmsdale.

In 1996, Duncan received a call to the Perth Free Church, where he served as minister for 15 years.

They settled well in the city and, once more, made long-lasting friendships. In a sweet providence, whilst pastoring in Perth, Duncan established a strong working relationship with the Rev Charles Young, minister of Perth Baptist Church. Charles had played an integral role in Duncan’s own conversion over two decades previously. Together, they strove to forge new ways of reaching the community around them with the Gospel message that had united them as brothers and friends.

In 2011, Duncan and Morag responded to a call to move back north to Dornoch Free Church. Duncan’s ministry in Dornoch was established with a consistent and winsome gospel clarity and a heartfelt desire to reach out to the community with the Good News. His ministry was demonstrated with a pastoral heart that strove to unite the congregation in the gospel.

The existing outreach work of the congregation — such as the children’s Holiday Bible Club, Road to Recovery and the Women’s Bible Study Group — were reinvigorated. At the same time, new ministries, such as men’s breakfasts, Friendship Group, school assemblies, a parent & toddler group, and a lunch club, were all set up.

2022

Al MacInnes is Ministry Support Worker at Dornoch Free Church

25

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

DAVID

BY DONALD MACKAY

Nicolas Régnier: David with the head of Goliath (1616)

CHAPTER 1 - FROM OBSCURITY TO CELEBRITY

the troops, he recounted his exploits in defending his flock from attack by a lion and a bear. And so he went into conflict with the mighty Goliath, armed with nothing more than a sling and five smooth stones, and prevailed.

Although David had a notable ancestry – of the tribe of Judah, and including Rahab and Ruth – there is no reason to think that his father Jesse of Bethlehem enjoyed any particular status in the land of Israel.

David was the youngest of seven brothers and there was a sister, Zeruaiah. He was not thought significant enough to be called in from tending the sheep to meet the prophet Samuel when he visited the family farm.

Nevertheless it was David that the prophet wanted to meet, and to anoint with oil in token of his destiny.

The next we hear of David is of his skill as a musician, when he was called on to administer music therapy to King Saul. The king had an intermittent but deep-seated melancholy which responded to David’s touch on the harp. Saul grew very fond of David, but did not seem to need his constant attendance.

It took a national emergency to bring David into prominence. He had arrived at the camp of the Israelite army on no more exalted a mission than to bring food supplies for his brothers who had enlisted in military service. But his arrival coincided with the appearance of a champion in the enemy ranks, throwing out a challenge to engage him in single combat. This was Goliath, a giant of a man, with a boastful voice to match. While the Israelite ranks quailed in terror of the Philistine, David’s heart swelled with resolution to bring down this defier of the living God. And when his youth and lack of war experience were derided by his brothers and the rest of

THE RECORD

CHAPTER 2 - FROM CELEBRITY TO OUTLAW After this, there was no going back to the sheepfold.

David was called into Saul’s personal service and given high rank in the army. Even more, his courage and modest bearing, and the manifest blessing of God upon him, so captivated the heart of Jonathan, Saul’s eldest son, that the two became one spirit.

But the adulation which now followed David everywhere bit into the heart of Saul. Samuel had predicted that the kingship would be taken from Saul and conferred on another: and who could that other be than this rising star?

Jealousy fed into enmity and enmity into blind hatred and outbursts of rage and violence. It took all his friend Jonathan’s courage and loyalty, and his wife Michal’s devotion, to save David from the king’s murderous assaults. Eventually, David became an exile from the court, and a fugitive seeking shelter where he could find it in the wilderness of Judah.

He accumulated a ragged band of followers – some kinsmen, some criminals, some fugitives like himself – and they became intensely loyal. He had a secret visit from Jonathan, who strengthened his hand in God. He sheltered in the priests’ town of Nob and unwittingly

26

JANUARY

CHAPTER 3 - KING OF ISRAEL

brought disaster on the high priest Ahimelech and his community as Saul spent his futile anger on them.

He sought provisions from a large-scale farmer in the Negev and was churlishly refused.

But above all he was thrown back on the mercy of God who, as he testified, ‘has rescued me from all adversity’.

All these experiences he recorded in song, and they are preserved for us in the Biblical psalter, particularly in the group of psalms numbered in the 50s.

Then, at last, wearied by perpetual flight and the perfidy of so-called friends who would at the drop of a hat betray him to Saul, David fled to the land of the Philistines. He was welcomed by King Achish at first, perhaps on the principle that anyone who is the enemy of my enemy (Saul) must be my friend. But there were those who were suspicious of David and he was never secure in Gath, having to feign madness in order to escape. Back in the Negev, he had to flee from Saul again and again, and twice when he unexpectedly had Saul at his mercy he spared him – eliciting a short-term penitence but no real change of heart.

So it was back again to Philistine territory, when David and his men enlisted in Achish’s army but secured freedom of action so that they were able, on pretence of attacking Judah’s southern border, to harry some hostile tribes instead. Achish was pleased with the reports he received of David’s activities, and resolved that he should march with his own troops into conflict with Israel, which was now imminent. This put David in an impossible situation, from which he was delivered only by the intransigence of the Philistine chieftains who remembered Goliath and David’s reputation as the slayer of many Philistines, and feared that he might turn against them in the heat of battle. Achish apologised to David but told him to return to his own quarters at Ziklag, three days’ march away.

When David arrived at Ziklag he found desolation.

The settlement had been burnt to the ground and all the women and children were gone. Lamenting, but finding strength in God, he headed south with his 600 men, and found a sick Egyptian who led them to the whereabouts of the raiding party. They were Amalekites and had taken a huge amount of plunder. David attacked them and recovered all the family members and the booty, which he distributed among the friendly tribes and the elders of Judah.

Meanwhile, 100 miles away, Saul was facing a greater disaster at Mount Gilboa, south of Carmel. Shorn of military superiority and the favour of God, his army was overwhelmed by Achish and he and his three eldest sons were killed. The news was brought to David by an Amalekite who claimed to have administered the coup de grace to the dying Saul, and brought his crown and royal armband to prove it. David executed the Amalekite for his sacrilege in killing the Lord’s anointed, and composed an eloquent lament for Saul and Jonathan.

So David, by the mercy of God, was delivered from the hand of Saul and equipped for succession to the throne.

2022

Saul had been the undisputed king of Israel. Who was to succeed him? David had been anointed by Samuel, but this had been done in private, almost in secret.

The accepted practice of the day would have pointed to Saul’s eldest surviving son, Ishbosheth; and Abner (Saul’s cousin and army general), who had survived the rout of Mount Gilboa, lost no time in setting up Ishbosheth as king. But David’s men would have none of this, and crowned David as king in the southern territory of Judah.

David was embarrassed by would-be supporters trying to clear the way for his assuming kingship over all Israel.

We have seen how an Amalekite tried to gain his favour by claiming responsibility for Saul’s death. Next, Joab, David’s general, murdered Abner, no doubt seeing him as an obstacle – although David emphasised both his regard for Abner and his revulsion at the deed. Finally, two desperados from Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, brought Ishbosheth’s head in triumph to David, in celebration of his revenge against the house of Saul. David’s response was to cut off their heads and expose their bodies in shame. His decisive actions made it clear to all Israel that he had no wish to take the kingdom by force.

David’s policy was successful. The Israelite elders gathered in Hebron, a covenant was entered into, and David was crowned king of the whole country, at the age of 37. He was to reign for 33 more years.

They were not destined to be peaceful years. As soon as the Philistines heard of his accession, they attacked and David was thrown back into defensive – almost guerrilla – mode. Taking care to ask counsel of God, he counter-attacked and gained two significant, although not decisive, victories.

He marched on the city of Jebus – for centuries a thorn in Israel’s flesh – and took it with a surprise attack, sending his men into the city through a water shaft. He renamed the city Jerusalem and made it his royal seat and citadel, building a palace there.

He was also minded to build a temple, but the Ark of the Covenant – which had to be the centrepiece of temple worship – was at Kiriath Jearim. It had been left there twenty years earlier following a display of divine wrath over the impiety of the town’s inhabitants, who dared to look into the ark.

This should have been a warning to David, but in his enthusiasm for the ark’s return he allowed a similar impiety to occur and its progress was halted again. After three months, with suitable precautions taken over the handling of the ark and elaborate sacrifices made during its transit, the ark was carried into Jerusalem and took its place in a specially prepared tent.

While David was contemplating a more prestigious housing for the ark, God intervened with the intimation that he would build David’s line for generations to come, but that the building of a temple was to be a task for David’s son, not for himself.

David went on to win great triumphs over the surrounding nations, subduing the Philistines, Edom,

27

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

Moab, and Syria. As the chronicler put it, the Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

death of the child of David’s adultery, and the prospect of unending strife and bloodshed in David’s house.

The forgiveness of David is a great mystery. It is possible that he saw himself, like many eastern potentates, as possessed of powers such as the droit de seigneur, and accordingly that he saw Uriah’s obstinacy, as he might regard it, as an annoyance to be swept aside. It is more likely that, in the grip of blind passion, his hold on the principles of his faith simply dissolved and had to be brought to life again by the prophet’s message. That seems to be implied in the teaching of Psalms 32 and 51, which reveal the mercy of God in an unparalleled way.

Where was David to go from here? He had to begin by submitting to the discipline of God, revealed in the death of his child. Then he had to face the disintegration of his household – brought about to some extent by his own lack of fatherly discipline but much more by his evil example.

The first crisis arrived with Amnon, David’s eldest son – a hedonistic and intemperate youth. He developed a passion for Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom, the second eldest son. There was evidently a barrier to their marriage, perhaps that of consanguinity. Amnon pined and sulked, until a courtier called Jonadab devised a plan to bring the two together. Amnon was to feign illness and to ask for Tamar’s ministrations. David, who was obviously indulgent towards his children’s whims, agreed to this. Amnon took advantage of the opportunity by seizing and raping Tamar: he then turned violently against her, leaving her disgraced and abandoned. David was furious but did nothing about the situation.

Absalom bided his time until, after two years, he was in a position to wreak vengeance on his half-brother.

After his minions had murdered Amnon, Absalom fled to Geshur in Syria, where the king was his fatherin-law. David longed after his wayward son, but felt unable to pardon him: so there was a stalemate lasting three years. Eventually Joab brought about a partial reconciliation, and Absalom returned to Jerusalem, not quite accepted at court and deeply resentful of his father’s treatment of him.

Absalom evidently was a quite exceptional character.

Possessed of outrageously good looks, he also had an ingratiating manner and a cool, calculating head. He became a national icon and ‘stole the hearts of the men of Israel.’ He had his eye on the crown, and he was not interested in a bloodless coup.

Again, he bided his time. After four years, he obtained permission from his father to hold a religious festival at Hebron, to which he invited sympathisers from all the tribes of Israel, including Achithophel, Bathsheba’s grandfather. Events moved swiftly: a rumour was put about that Absalom had been crowned at Hebron, and more and more people rallied to his standard. David decided that it was time to flee Jerusalem, with his court and a bodyguard of Philistines who had cast in their lot with him. Meanwhile Absalom arrived at Jerusalem, where he held a council attended by Achithophel, who had been a trusted adviser of David but had now turned

CHAPTER 4 - DOWNHILL From the scene of military greatness, magnanimity of character and closeness to God, the chronicler has to record a tale so sordid, so out of character (as we would say), that it stretches our imagination to connect it with David. He does so with the bare minimum of words and virtually without comment. But he does not want us to miss any of the tension or the drama, so he often goes into detail that is unusual in historical annals.

The only neighbouring kingdom which had not been the subject of Israelite conquest was Ammon, with whose king David had had cordial relations. However, Nahash died, and his son Hanun, to whom David sent a friendly delegation, responded with a gross insult which could not be ignored.

Hanun prepared for war and marshalled a huge army, largely of hired men. It was a hard-fought campaign, lasting over a year. In the second year Joab was sent to besiege the capital, Rabbah. The chronicler laconically says: ‘But David remained in Jerusalem’.

One evening David, walking on the roof of his palace, saw a woman bathing. He was immediately struck by her beauty, made inquiries about her, had her brought to the palace and slept with her. She was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of his commanders. She sent word to David: ‘I am pregnant’.

The king had to take action and decided on concealment. The first step must be to divert attention from himself, so he arranged for Uriah to be recalled from the front, ostensibly to report to him on the progress of the campaign. This Uriah did, but persistently refused to go home to his wife – on the honourable ground that he had no right to enjoy luxury while his fellow-soldiers, and the ark of God, were suffering the rigours of the battlefield. David was unable to persuade him: perhaps he had an inkling that Uriah had guessed at the truth. So he sent a letter, by the hand of Uriah, instructing Joab to put Uriah in the front line and to arrange for him to be isolated so that he would be killed. Joab carried out his orders, and Uriah duly perished by an Ammonite arrow. After the period of mourning, David took Bathsheba to be his wife.

As the chronicler put it, what David had done displeased the Lord. Nathan the prophet was sent with a divine message in the form of a parable. ‘A rich man, wishing to give a feast for a visitor, grudged killing one of his own sheep for the purpose, but instead took the pet lamb of a poor tenant’. When David, appalled at this outrage, said that the rich man deserved to die, Nathan replied: ‘You are that man’.

David immediately grasped the justice of Nathan’s sentence, and confessed ‘I have sinned against the Lord’.

Nathan then surprisingly said: ‘The Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die’. But he went on to pronounce a catalogue of woes that would follow, including the

THE RECORD

28

against him – perhaps in disgust at David’s treatment of his granddaughter. His advice to Absalom was cynical in the extreme; that he should show his disdain for his father by lying with the concubines whom David had left to take care of the palace.

Achithophel also gave advice to Absalom about the campaign which he should wage against David. It should be a lightning strike, carried out without delay by twelve thousand hand-picked troops and aimed at the king alone. This would ensure the success of the rebellion, with the minimum of casualties. Fortunately for David, another adviser was at hand – Hushai, a friend of the king who pretended to have changed sides. He cast doubt on Achithophel’s counsel and advised a general mobilisation, which would of course take time and allow David to gather his own forces. Hushai’s plan appealed to Absalom’s vanity and was accepted.

Eventually, battle was joined – but not before David, addressing his troops, irrationally ordered them not to harm Absalom. It was a fierce encounter, brought to an end by Absalom being suspended by his head of hair – the pride and joy of his personal appearance – while riding through an oak forest, and by Joab dispatching him. But David put a damper on the victory by weeping publicly and inconsolably for his son, and he had to be reminded roughly by Joab that thousands of his own men had perished.

place, a task of nine months’ duration. Immediately afterwards, it would seem, David was consciencestricken and begged for forgiveness. But he was visited by the prophet Gad with an appalling message: You have three options – three years of famine, three months of flight before your enemies, or three days of plague. David unhesitatingly chose the third option, as coming directly from the hand of a God whom he knew to be merciful. The judgment was severe: 70,000 died of the plague, but total disaster was averted by sacrifices which God ordained to be offered at a place just outside Jerusalem. This, said David, is to be the site of the future temple of the Lord. And he went on to make lavish provision of materials and precious metals for the building out of his own wealth, and to challenge the national leaders to do the same.

There is a final, rather sad, scene in the life of David as recorded by the chronicler. He is huddled up in bed, unable to get warm, and he is out of touch with the dangerous events which are looming over the palace and its occupants. Long before he had designated Solomon, Bathsheba’s son, as his successor. This had caused resentment among some of the older sons: Absalom had made a bid for the throne, and now Adonijah, the oldest surviving son, was doing the same.

He had gathered around him a group of influential nobles, including Joab and Abiathar the priest, and had made a great feast to which the king’s sons were invited but not Solomon, Nathan the prophet, or Zadok the high priest.

Something has to be done to rouse the king and force him to pay attention. So Bathsheba enters the bedroom and demands an audience. She paints a vivid picture of Adonijah’s gathering and the danger in which Solomon and she herself are placed if this upstart seizes the throne. To reinforce the message Nathan the prophet follows at once and repeats Bathsheba’s account, virtually in the same words. This has the desired effect.

David rises, calls in his chief advisers, and with an oath appoints Solomon as king, giving clear instructions for his immediate coronation. The threatened palace coup is averted and Solomon takes the throne with dignity and assurance. There only remains David’s fatherly duty of counselling his son to walk in the ways of the Lord and to keep an eye on those individuals who could cause him trouble in the future.

So David’s course is run. At the age of 70 he is fulfilled but weary. He has borne the burden of kingship well, on the whole, and has justified the title of the lamp of Israel which a grateful nation bestowed on him. He has established a regime in which justice flourishes and where the worship of Yahweh, according to the laws of Moses, is faithfully observed. Above all, ‘the beloved singer of Israel’ has left a unique legacy of sacred poetry, destined to endure through millennia and to be the song book of the New as well as the Old Testament church. •

CHAPTER 5 - THE FINAL YEARS The last chapter in David’s story begins with his restoration to the throne after the rebellion. Although the nation was still in turmoil, David seems to have regarded his return to Jerusalem as a turning point, as he exclaimed: ‘Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?’ But he made a serious error of judgment in appointing Amasa, Absalom’s field marshal, as head of his own army in place of Joab, who had offended the king by killing Absalom. Amasa turned out to be a poor commander and Joab, while he had no excuse for assassinating the king’s son, was better able to cope with the critical situation in which the country now stood.

After the civil war there were two national emergencies that David had to face. One was a three-year famine, which was revealed to be a punishment for a breach of covenant by Saul towards the Gibeonites, a Canaanite tribe resident in Israel. Many men of Gibeon had been slaughtered through Saul’s mistaken zeal, and this was deemed to be a matter of blood-guilt that could be satisfied only by the handing over to the Gibeonites of seven representatives of the house of Saul. It fell to David to make the unwelcome choice of the seven, but once he had done this the famine was relieved.

The other emergency arose from David’s personal sin. Overtaken by a burst of pride at the prosperity and success of the kingdom, he ordered Joab to carry out a census of the men of military age. This was evidently forbidden except at the express command of God: Joab knew this, and tried to dissuade the king from such folly. He would not listen. So the census took

2022

Donald Mackay is a member of Knox Free Church, Perth

29

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

PLATES FROM THE PEWS DAYSPRING MACLEOD passes on some delicious bakes for dietary restrictions

I

When I ask people for their recipes, I also ask them to tell a little about what the Lord has been teaching them. That’s a little tricky for me, because I write a column covering that every month! One thing I would like to mention is a new view I’ve had of the Old Testament. As well as attending St Columba in Edinburgh, I listen to my parents’ Bible teacher most days. Cosmo Panzetta is a Messianic rabbi leading a church in Arizona. This year he taught through the book of Zechariah. I had read it before but it had never made any impression on me. Rabbi Cosmo not only made Zechariah come alive, but it really helped me fit together the entire narrative of the latter Old Testament books – what prophets were speaking, and when, and their contexts; what exile meant; what a big task it was returning to Jerusalem; as well as pointing ahead to Jesus’ roles as priest and king. I felt like I was finally understanding a huge chunk of the Bible I had never really pieced together before, and it was electrifying! If you’d like to hear Rabbi Cosmo’s teaching on Zechariah, you can search for ‘House of New Beginnings’ on YouTube. •

started this recipes page a year ago in order to pass on some dishes that i thought no one in the

free church should miss out on ! This is my last issue writing the column, as next month it will be passing into the capable hands of the WfM. Writing Plates from the Pew has enabled me already to share several of my favourites with you. Catriona MacLeod’s cinnamon lamb is our holiday staple.

Angus MacRae’s Malaysian curry is my muchloved ‘hospitality’ meal that I take to anyone who is housebound. Kathmar Dow’s chocolate pots are one of my favourite desserts!

But when any of my friends think about coming to my house, they think of ‘Dayspring cookies’.

Especially during holidays, I make bigger batches to freeze so I can just take a few different varieties out when we’re expecting company (you know, in nonpandemic years). But when you have a wide variety of friends, you often get a wide variety of dietary requirements too. So I’m going to pass on two very easy recipes that happen to fit certain restrictions — they are still totally indulgent and don’t use any weird ingredients; in fact, I would, and do, make these for people with no restrictions at all.

CRAZY CAKE (VEGAN, DAIRY AND EGG-FREE) Crazy Cake is a depression-era recipe used when certain ingredients were scarce. It’s very quick, easy, and tasty — really just a rich, moist sponge with a couple tweaks. You can even grease a ceramic or glass pan and make up the batter right in the pan — no bowl needed! I usually make the chocolate version, but lots of different flavours are available if you google it. You can pair this with a normal buttercream, substituting dairy-free butter and milk.

INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • • •

220g plain flour 170g sugar 30g cocoa powder 1 tsp baking soda ¼ tsp salt 80ml oil 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp white vinegar 240ml water (or coffee for a richer flavour)

Combine all the dry ingredients, then make three holes in the mixture and pour in the oil, vanilla and vinegar.

Stir briefly, then pour the water or coffee over the mixture and stir until just combined. Bake in a 9” pan at 180 C. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

THE RECORD

30

JANUARY

NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES (GLUTEN-FREE) Most of my friends say this is my best cookie recipe whether they’re gluten-free or not! My grandparents used to make them and they really are incredibly satisfying.

INGREDIENTS • • • • • • •

350g white sugar 8 oz (half-pint) milk 115g butter 4 tablespoons cocoa powder 115g peanut butter 250g quick-cooking oats 1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt the butter, sugar, milk and cocoa powder in a saucepan. Bring it to the boil. Once it has reached a ‘rolling’ (hard, bubbling, frothing) boil, leave it for exactly one minute. Take off the heat immediately and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla, then the oats. Make sure the oats are all coated. Then immediately drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto baking paper. They will start to harden immediately and are ready to lift after about 20 minutes. Makes about 2 dozen.

2022

31

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

PAGES FROM ADAM’S DIARY The Angel in the Supermarket A brother, known to some of us as Dr Adam, has served the Lord among his suffering church for many years. Dr Adam has also ministered in various parts of the world among refugees. We have asked his permission to print some of the stories of his life and service for the encouragement of readers of The Record. For well understood reasons, some of the names of people and places have usually been changed or omitted.

THE RECORD

32

JANUARY

I

n the years that i have served our lord, there have been numerous occasions on which he has directly intervened to help me so that his work will not be disrupted. He

Photo by Ginny Rose Stewart on Unsplash

has also opened my eyes to see that many incidents which I would ordinarily have dismissed as coincidences, in fact, have not been happenstances at all. Rather, when carefully considered, the footprints of the Saviour are seen in all the pathways of our lives.

Several years ago, I was in the Netherlands, going to visit a group of believers in a refugee camp about two hours away. My plan was to spend the day teaching the Bible and ministering to them. A friend of mine had offered to drive me there.

Usually, before I go to these camps, I buy some fruit, pastries, meat and bread to ensure that we will have a meal together and make the occasion more enjoyable for the refugees. In the morning, my friend came. As we were driving to the shop, the check-engine light in his car came on. He said, ‘I don’t think it will be safe to drive this car. I have to take it to my mechanic to see what is wrong. I will not be able to take you.

Can we postpone going today?’

I explained that I didn’t have many days left before I had to leave to go home. Furthermore, I had promised the refugees in the camp in their dismal circumstances to be with them, minister to them, and encourage them. If I were to cancel, I would deeply disappoint them. Therefore, I told him to drop me off at the supermarket and then attend to his car.

I told him that I would take the train afterwards.

He did as I asked. Once I had finished shopping, I went to the cashier to pay. As I reached into my coat pocket, I realised I did not have my wallet. I had it in my room. That meant I could not buy my train ticket, nor the bus ticket to go to the station, nor pay for the food I had just selected. I would have to put the food back on the shelves, walk for 40 minutes to the apartment to get my wallet, take the bus back to the shop and then go to the train station. That meant much of the day would be wasted and my visit significantly delayed. I apologised to the cashier and told her that I had forgotten my wallet. I offered to put the items back on the shelves.

As I turned around with my trolley, a tall, white-haired man with strikingly beautiful, penetrating eyes was standing right behind me. He said, ‘Will you allow me to pay?’ I profusely thanked him and said, ‘I have forgotten my wallet.’ He said, ‘I can see that.’ I explained that I needed to go back to my apartment to get it since I also needed money for other things this morning. He said, ‘I know!’

I was puzzled as to what he meant but I was distracted by the absent-mindedness which had landed me in my predicament. He repeated, ‘Please let me pay and I will take you to where you need to go.’ I thanked him and agreed that, on one condition, I would let him pay, and that was that he would let me pay him back as soon as we were at my apartment.

He paid for the food items and walked me to his car. I handed him the address of where I was staying. He looked at it and said, ‘OK.’ But then, rather than driving in the direction of the apartment, he drove to the train station. He stopped in front of the station and said, ‘I won’t be long.’ A few minutes later, he came back and handed me two train tickets. One was for going to the station right next to the refugee camp. The other was for coming back. With the tickets, he also gave me several brand-new Euro notes and said, with great emotion, ‘Christ is with you! God bless you, dear friend!’

Before I could say anything, he handed me my two grocery bags, waved good-bye and drove off. As he drove away, I was certain that I had just encountered something out of the ordinary. How did he know that I was planning to take the train that morning? How did he know where I was going? He had not asked, and I had not told him.

He also did not know who I was and what I was doing. In a secular nation, why would he say, ‘Christ is with you! God bless you, dear friend!’? I went to the platform to catch my train, still in a daze with regard to that encounter. There were too many inexplicable details!

Such perplexing meetings and events have happened to me in the course of the last 34 years, when I was in danger, in trouble, when I feared for my life, or when I was exhausted, anxious, or distressed and was doubting my usefulness to the Lord. I have understood these interventions as reassurances from the Lord that I was not alone or as an affirmation that I had not failed in my duties and disappointed Him. As we walk in obedience to our Lord and trust Him with all our heart, he opens our eyes to see His blessed presence in every passageway of our lives and to see realities beyond the confines of the natural world. •

2022

33

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

BOOK REVIEWS Are you ready to try something new for 2022? Perhaps something a bit more challenging, or at least different from your usual reading. Our selections this month cover exegesis, history, kids and Christian life.

Have a look and see what you think! And if none of these are for you, head over to our online shop (https://thefree.church/shop) to browse our full selection.

BOOK OF THE MONTH: LESSONS FROM THE UPPER ROOM SINCLAIR B. FERGUSON (REPUBLISHED 2021) You know the joke that in Scotland we can have the four seasons of the year in one day. Sinclair Ferguson has the ability to communicate to children, to the young in the faith, to the well-educated, and to the theologically trained all in the one sermon and to nourish the souls of each of them.

Lessons from the Upper Room is ‘an invitation to spend a few hours with Jesus’ disciples, listening to his teaching and overhearing Him pray — both for them and for you.’ Based on seminars delivered at Ligonier Ministries, Ferguson takes us to that Upper Room in Jerusalem and allows us not only to hear the Saviour, but to sense the atmosphere, as He prepared his disciples for what was to come.

Ferguson is a master storyteller. His illustrations are superlative. For example, in trying to capture the Saviour’s humiliation in coming into this sin-sick world, he asks us to imagine someone descending from a penthouse suite in an elevator and stepping out into a lobby crowded with smokers. To walk through that lobby will mean being contaminated with the odious odour of cigarette smoke. What a way to demonstrate how our Saviour was affected by (infected with?) our sin.

Whoever you are, however far you have you have travelled with the Lord, reading Lessons from the Upper Room will provide you with the perfect preparation for Easter 2022. • This book is available from eden.co.uk.

Ian Watson, Hope Church, Blackwood & Kirkmuirhill

These books are only a small proportion of the ones we review.

You can find all our reviews online at https://books.freechurch.org or sign up to our monthly email to get them directly to your inbox: https://thefree.church/books-sign-up Email Address: books@freechurch.org Sales Phone Number: 0330 2233423 (Please note that this number takes you directly to our bookshop partners, 10ofthose.com. They are very helpful!)

THE RECORD

34

JANUARY

THE CHRISTIAN MIND: ESCAPING FUTILITY WILLIAM EDGAR (2021) Culture can often caricature Christian faith as leaving our brain in neutral or dropping it off at the church door alongside our offering. However, contrary to popular opinion, Christianity is not a mindless faith. Our minds matter, something which William Edgar helps to sketch out in this short introduction to the Christian mind.

Since this is a short overview it does not address everything. That being said, Edgar does well to cover a lot of ground with limited space. It is an excellent point of entry for Christians to consider how they use their minds for the pursuit of God’s glory. It is also a helpful resource to consider the role of the mind in Christian mission. For example, how do we communicate the gospel amidst the rising tides of relativism in British culture?

I would highly recommend this book to Christian students as they seek to engage culture both on and off campus with a Christian mind. Perhaps this is something that your church could gift to students in your setting. It would also be a good resource to read with a small group of people. Although there are no set questions, the short chapters will spark good discussions. • This book is available from Mound Books.

Martin Paterson, Cumbernauld Free Church & OMF International

A HOLY MINISTER JORDAN STONE (2021) This book on the life and legacy of Robert Murray M’Cheyne is an enlightening and encouraging read, written in such a way that is fresh and inspiring not just in terms of getting to know the man himself, but as a powerful motivator for improving our own relationship with Christ.

Jordan Stone presents a huge amount of information concisely and comprehensively that leaves the reader with a sense of knowing M’Cheyne better than one could have believed possible. For M’Cheyne, Christ and holiness were everything and the author helpfully and skillfully uses these two themes to draw out critical issues in his life as the focal point in each of the three sections and each of the chapters in the book. The three sections are ‘A Life of Holiness’, ‘Foundations for Holiness’ and ‘A Ministry of Holiness’, and each chapter focuses on Christ in relation to holiness: Knowing Christ, Loving Christ, Growing in Christ, Preaching Christ, Sharing Christ, Resting in Christ and Looking for Christ. A final chapter on Lessons Learned Along the Way serves as a summary of salient points for reflection and application in our own lives, which is itself very helpful.

This is a great book and well worth reading again and again. • This book is available from Christian Focus.

Colin Macleod, Gairloch, Kinlochewe & Torridon Free Church

WHY DID THE REFORMATION HAPPEN? DANIKA COOLEY (2021) This is really one of the coolest books I have ever read about the Reformation!

Meant for around the 8-12 age group, it can be read by any adult who wants to learn about Reformation history. Most of the names from these historical times are well known, but to have a snapshot of each of them and the timeline throughout those 400 turbulent years in Europe was absolutely fascinating.

I was only sorry that it wasn’t longer! The illustrations on each page would appeal to the younger age group and I think Martyn Smith has done a great job with his pencil. The Sola Slogans, which I thought might detract from the main text, in fact added to the fluidity of the story and somehow embedded it into the reality of the basis of the Christian faith. This was our story, and I felt a part of it somehow. An inspirational and cracking good read. • This book is available from Christian Focus.

Ruth Aird, Bruntsfield Evangelical Church, Edinburgh

2022

35

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

MUSIC NEWS & REVIEWS NEW RELEASE – HARD AS NAILS, ALEX MACDONALD The Rev. Alex MacDonald, former minister of Buccleuch Free Church, Edinburgh, has released his fourth album, Hard as Nails.

His first album, Like the River, opened with the iconic tall tale of ‘The Fall of Tam Moncrieff’, which Tom Morton dubbed ‘a Calvinist “Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts”’ after Dylan’s classic track.

The title track of A9 became a favourite with fans driving the long road north on this arterial route through the Highlands. And the title track of Into the Light was a tribute to the late Murdo Murchison.

The new album is a step up in production, recorded at Black Isle Recordings in Fortrose. It contains twelve tracks, ranging in mood from the tragic to the hilarious and everything in between. The tragic is represented in ‘Iolair Iolaire’, sensitively dealing with the Iolaire disaster of 1919, and ‘St Valery’, recounting the bitter surrender of the 51st Highland Division in World War II. The hilarious comes out in ‘The Band Song’, listing the escapades of Alex and the band as they travelled to gigs all over Scotland.

Two of the songs, ‘Landscape of Dreams’ and ‘Long Way to Go’, are spiritual reflections on growing up in the Highlands and leaving home (as so many have had to do to study or find work). The spiritual emphasis continues in ‘Darkness Coming Down’, which is Alex’s first detailed attempt at expressing in song the impact of the life of Jesus Christ.

The title track, ‘Hard as Nails’, was inspired by Alex’s friend, the late Rev. Kenny MacDonald, whose daughter Alison went missing in India in 1981.

In addition to Alex’s usual band of Rob MacDonald on drums, Phil Onslow

on bass, Donald Forsyth on lead guitar and Cailean Morison on piano and organ, the album features the exquisite fiddleplaying of Olivia Ross of The Shee.

CDs of the album are available online from alexjmacdonald. co.uk/sales and downloads are available at alexmacdonald1. bandcamp.com.. •

CHARITY ALBUM RELEASED TO RAISE MONEY FOR WFM The Women for Mission (WfMm) group in Cross, Ness has arranged for a cd of seven christian songs to be recorded by Isabel Macleod, Carloway, to raise funds for wfm projects.

Commenting on how the recording came about, Isabel said, ‘The idea for the CD came from the Cross WfM group earlier this year. I had recorded one song for them as an online fundraiser for Dwelling Places and that led on to recording a few more to make this CD. The profits made from the sale of the CD will go to the WfM fund to support this year’s projects.’

The CD costs £6 and it can be paid in cash or by bank transfer. Copies can be ordered by emailing isabeljmac@hotmail.com with payments being taken by bank transfer. •

THE RECORD

Track List:

36

Oh the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus Abide With Me Silent Night Salm 108 O Holy Night Psalm 16 Paraphrase of Isaiah 58

JANUARY

POETRY PAGE JESUS MINDS AN UNDERSTAUNDS

BY IRENE HOWAT Lord Jesus, yince ye walk’d this earth, kent love an loss, kent tears an mirth, tae widden cross frae hummle birth ye mind an unnerstaun.

Ye war lyke us tho did nae sin, sae whit an ever state A’m in wi be’n oor human kith n kin ye mind an unnerstaun.

Lord Jesus, whan A’m temptit sair, an feart A cannae fecht nae mair, ca tae ma thouchts an kep it there ye mind an unnerstaun.

Ye tae war temptit by the deil, bit foucht and bet thon sleekit cheil, e’en tho ye’re God ye’re man as weel sae aye ye unnerstaun.

Lord Jesus, whan A cum tae dee haud up yer cross in front o me, in ma last meenits let me see ye mind an unnerstaun.

Ye deed a human deeth yersel tae save the lykes o me frae hell – may that blest thoucht ma fears dispel ye mind an unnerstaun.

Photo by Musab al Rawahi on Unsplash

When lost in wunner at yer grace, an lost in love afore yer face, wi the redeemed A tak ma place in heiven’s glory land, e’en then, dear Jesus, whit it cost for ye tae lea yer heavenly host tae save puir sinners that war lost A’ll never unnerstaun.

Irene Howat, the much-loved Christian author, writes in both English and Scots. This particularly wonderful poem reminds one of Hebrews 4, speaking of Jesus’ compassion for us born of His own experience of the temptations and suffering we face ourselves. This piece has now been set to music by Ruth Campbell, and her beautiful arrangement can be viewed by typing ‘Jesus Minds and Understaunds’ into YouTube. Please take a look – your time will be richly rewarded! If reading digitally, the link is as follows: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bzUi3-zsN6c.

2022

37

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

I

the history of the Church was accompanied by a revival of good preaching. The current use of the word ‘talk’ often hints at the diminution of respect for preaching. On the global scene the masters in church planting and revitalisation both value and work at their preaching. Have you noticed that those most fired with a missional vision in our own denomination take preaching seriously? Notice also that they are ‘people’ people. They know how to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.

Greater legitimacy can be given to the concept of the primacy of the word. This is bigger than preaching alone. In Acts 6 there was a food bank issue. The apostles unambiguously stated that they should not ‘neglect the ministry of the word of God’ to help in the administration of the food bank. The mercy ministry continued with an enhanced efficiency and the apostles ministered the word. They ministered the word in preaching, in small groups, in conversations, in courts, and in table talk.

Think about the ultimate preacher: Jesus. He did not remain in a rabbinical study with His books but freely mixed with all that Galilean society had to offer. You could not read the gospels and come away with the idea that Jesus was primarily a preacher. Socially he went high, engaging with university teachers, high-ranking civil servants and military officers. But He was equally at home, perhaps more at home, with those down the social scale: prostitutes, lepers, the homeless and many more. Remember that in the values of the kingdom, the poor are rich and the way up is the way down.

You simply cannot preach unless you know how people live, think and talk. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. •

s the primacy of preaching a thing? the phrase was

popularised

by

dr

martyn

lloyd-jones

in the first chapter of his classic work on

Photo ©Fin Macrae

preaching, preaching and preachers.

In the context of the mission of the church it has to be carefully unpacked as we fear that it’s both misunderstood and misused.

Only a foolish person would write off LloydJones as a credible authority on mission. As you consider a reading list for the new year I commend Memories of Sandfields by Bethan Lloyd-Jones.

There you will find stories of conversion which will thrill any Christian heart. And Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ own book, Evangelistic Sermons at Aberavon, displays the very best of preaching for a verdict.

We fear that has become a forgotten practice.

However, there is a problem with the phrase.

I don’t think it’s biblical. It’s a bit like saying that eating has primacy over drinking. In all the elements which make up mission and evangelism we should be careful not to divide each element.

Another parallel would be a surgeon dissecting one part of the body which is inextricably fused to another. What God has put together let not man break asunder.

In pastoral ministry the minister is never only a preacher. He is called to be a pastor-teacher; the office is one, not two, as we see in Ephesians 4:11.

In the context of the mission of the local church the pastor-teacher is called to be a generalist, even ‘doing the work of an evangelist’. The man who spends all his time in the study with his books will be less effective than the pastor who holds the hand of the dying and drives the three-hour journey to rehab with the recovering alcoholic. The effective minister will do both.

Like every saying, ‘the primacy of preaching’ has to be nuanced. Never let it be said that we minimize preaching. The exact opposite is true. There is no healthy church which lacks a robust preaching ministry. Every great movement of spiritual life in

THE RECORD

38

JANUARY

Doras dòchais (A Door of Hope) LE JANET NICPHÀIL

A

ig toiseach bliadhn' ùr nar n-eachdraidh, tha

a' cuideachadh an co-chreutairean ann an iomadh dòigh? Gu cinnteach chan eil iad ga dhèanamh airson duais no urram, ach, nì an Cruthaidhear cinnteach gum bi iad air an duaiseachadh ann an dòigh air chor-eigin.

Nach e Iòseph o Arimatea agus Nicodemus, ged a bha an gràdh cho folaichte, a ghabh an cothrom an gnìomh àlainn a dhèanamh? Ghabh iad corp an t-Slànaigheir agus cheangail iad ann an lìonaodaichean E, còmhla ri spìosraidh, mus deach corp Iosa don uaigh. Abair seirbheis phrìseil, agus cha b'ann airson glòir dhaoine a rinn iad e, ach gu cinnteach, bhiodh sùilean an Athar nèamhaidh orra ann an gràdh.

Tha doras dòchais againn an-diugh airson gun tug ar Slànaighear buaidh air uaigh agus air bàs. Tha E aig deaslàimh an Athar a' dèanamh sìor eadarghuidhe airson A shluaigh, agus fios Aige na bhios an tòir orra le Nàmhaid a-bhos air an talamh. Nach do choinnich seo ris Fhèin, ach thug Esan a' bhuaidh, ach tha tha fios Aige cho lag 's a tha A shluagh Fhèin gu math tric.

doras a' fosgladh dhuinn uile, agus bidh sinn an dòchas gur e bliadhna làn bheannachdan a

©icafreitas - stock.adobe.com

bhios romhainn.

Bidh sinn fhathast iomagaineach, agus sinn a' cluinntinn naidheachd an-dèidh naidheachd mu staid an t-saoghail. Feumaidh sinn an-còmhnaidh a bhith a' cuimhneachadh gur e an Cruthaidhear, 'Rìgh mòr an t-saoghail.' Is leis an talamh agus an làn, an domhain 's na bheil ann, mar a tha an Salmadair a' cur nar cuimhne.

Nuair a tha a' chinnt-sa againn, ged nach tuig sinn na nithean a cheadaicheas E, feumaidh sinn a bhith muinghineach, dòchasach, a dh' aindheoin dè a tha a' dol air adhart a-bhos.

Nach robh Peadar anns a' phrìosan agus e ceangailte le dà shlabhraidh, agus luchd-faire fa chomhair an dorais a' coimhead a' phrìosain? Nach e an suidheachadh sin a bha sàraichte dhan Abstol?

Ach, teann 's gu robh na slabhraidhean, chual' an Cruthaidhear bith-ùrnaigh na h-eaglais' airson Pheadair, agus fhreagair an Cruthaidhear. Nach e seo a sheall A chumhachd?

Dheàlraich an solas ann an dorchadas a' phrìosain, thuit na ceanglaichean de làmhan Pheadair agus fhuair e a-mach às an t-suidheachadh èiginneach a bha a' coimhead cho mì-ghealltanach, agus e a' leantainn an aingil a threòraich a-mach e.

Nach eil sinne aig toiseach bliadhn' ùr ag ùrnaigh ris an aon Chruthaidhear? Tha an aon chumhachd Aige an-diugh. Chan eil Esan ag atharrachadh, agus èistidh E an-còmhnaidh ri ùrnaighean A shluaigh. Aig amannan, seallaidh E gu soilleir gur Esan Dia, agus gu bheil A shùil a là 's a dh'oidhch' air A shaoghal Fhèin, agus air A mhuinntir, a tha glè phrìseil leis.

Tha am fàidh, Nahum, a' cur nar cuimhne gu bheil an Tighearna mòr ann an cumhachd, agus 'gu bheil A shlighe anns a' chuairt-ghaoith agus anns an doininn, 's gur iad na neòil luaithre A chas'.

Ged a tha seo do-thuigsinneach dhuinne, le cho àrd 's a tha E os ar cionn, tha an dearbh fhàidh gar misneachadh le bhith ag ràdh, 'Is daingneach làidir E an là na h-airce'.

Ma bhios an sealladh àrd-sa againn air ar Cruthaidhear aig toiseach na bliadhna gu a deireadh, bidh sinn ag iarraidh a bhith a'dèanamh seirbheis Dha, fhads a tha sinn a-bhos air thalamh.

Ma dh' fhosglas doras dhuinn far am faod sinn nì beag air chor-eigin a dhèanamh Dha, gabhaidh sinn an cothrom, agus nach eil iad lìonmhor a tha

2022

Gheall E gun tigeadh E airson A mhuinntir Fhèin aon là. Is Esan an doras, agus treòraichidh E dhachaigh gach aon a thug Athair Dha. •

39

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

BY CATRIONA MURRAY

POST TENEBRAS LUX O

the world of the living — she is to follow him out of the underworld and will be restored to life, as long as Orpheus does not look back at her during the journey.

He does, however, glance back, when his mind is beset with doubts as to whether Hades will fulfil his promise. Eurydice is swept back to the underworld and her last chance at life is lost forever.

Looking back is here equated with a loss of faith. We are, perhaps, more familiar still with the story of Lot’s wife who disobeyed God’s edict not to look back at Sodom as she fled with her spouse. She failed to set her eyes upon the future of promise, and her lingering attention on the sinful place she was leaving seemed to indicate an unwillingness to commit to the life that God had set before them.

Please don’t misunderstand me: happy memories are, in themselves, a blessing from the Lord. I can look back on my marriage as a time of great joy and fulfilment because I know that it was ordained by Him. But it’s also important to ask ourselves, as Job did, ‘Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?’ The removal of loved ones, the end of happy times, these too are ordained, and present an even greater opportunity to put our faith in the Lord. With that perspective, our remembrances can be treasured in proportion, and not become a lodestone on our hearts, dragging us backwards and causing us to doubt the wisdom of His providence.

There is, after all, a twofold comfort here for the Christian who stands at the threshold of a new year. First, we are able to put our complete trust in God and all His ways. We know that He does only what is for our ultimate spiritual good, and we may rest on that entirely. Second, I think we can echo the words of William Faulkner, who famously said, ‘The past is never dead. The past is not even past.’ That sentiment is truer for no one than it is for the Christian.

What you have left behind you that was worthless, you will not count loss; and what you have lost that was worth keeping will be restored to you in the fulness of eternity. •

ne of my favourite films of all time is the american civil war epic gone with the wind , and i usually rewatch it at

Photo by Rossano aka Bud Care on Flickr

some point during the long winter months .

The feisty heroine, Scarlett O’ Hara, finds her own — not always scrupulous — ways of coping with her sudden transition from pampered, wealthy southern belle to cash-strapped head of a sadly depleted family. She epitomises the survival instinct and rapidly turns her own misfortune to advantage, becoming a hard-headed businesswoman in the process.

At one point, however, she chastises her younger, more sentimental sister, for talking about the past. ‘Don’t look back,’ she counsels, ‘or it will drag at your heart until you can’t do anything but look back.’ We glean an insight here into one source of Scarlett’s apparently indomitable courage: she fixes her eyes and her attention firmly on the present and moves resolutely forward from there. She fears that permitting herself to consider what has been lost might leach all her resolve away irretrievably.

The dawn of a new year is traditionally a time for doing just that, however, which is why many people who have suffered bereavement in their lives can struggle with the festive atmosphere embraced by society. I have not found myself equal to welcoming the bells of Hogmanay since losing my husband in 2015. It is not, as some people have unkindly suggested, a failure of my faith in God; it is exactly what Scarlett experienced: a horror of becoming mired in the past so that there is no way to pull yourself free again. Memories are precious, but their siren call can lead you out into the depths…and if you journey there alone, the dangers are clear.

It is the same motif that we find in the classical Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice. When Eurydice dies, early in their seemingly idyllic marriage, her husband is beside himself and goes to Hades in hopes of retrieving her. Being the son of Apollo he is under special protection, and is able to present his request in person, playing his lyre for the god of the underworld.

Hades is so impressed by the performance that he tells Orpheus he may take Eurydice back to

THE RECORD

40

JANUARY