Summer 2018/19
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Australia’s reformed AP evangelical periodical AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN SUMMER 2018/19 On the precipice A surprising hunger Ancient heresy reborn Iran’s courageous Christians The last AP With limited income from have reached the point where just about subscriptions, it has depended on all news now is fake news. And advertisements in an age where there parliaments are not proving any more are fewer printed advertisements and an impressive. increased reliance on the online variety. God will surely revive the pulpit and To mangle T. S. Eliot, we found the vigorous proclamation of His word. ourselves ending with a whimper, not a One suspects that social media, while bang, as our losses appeared, albeit disreputable for the most part, will rather suddenly. As a result, this will be nevertheless play some part in this. The Preacher (Qoheleth) observed that the last printed edition of AP , barring Certainly, it is our hope at AP that the “of making many books there is no an unexpected, and at this stage journal will go online, and still be used. end” (Eccles. 12:12), but the same unknown, source of income. cannot often be said of printed To some of us, paper is next to wisdom, journals. They seem to belong with the In the 19th century, the pulpit, press and we would presumably have felt the grass that withers in contrast to the and parliament were often seen as the same way about papyrus. For now, word of God (Isa. 40:6-8). In 2012 three drivers of public opinion. That however, thank you, and pray that there was a valiant attempt to rescue has changed over time. C. S. Lewis whatever takes the place of the printed Australian Presbyterian by making it a played on the KJV’s rendering of the AP will be used to echo, however free quarterly which piggy-backed the paralytic’s four friends being unable to faintly, the message that God has entrusted to His people. book catalogue from Reformers get near Jesus because of the “press” Bookshop in Stanmore. (Mark 2:4), meaning the crowd. We Peter Barnes, editor of AP Editor Peter Barnes | Social Media Coordinator Rosemary Timmins | Website ap.org.au | Online Blog apmagonline.org Facebook facebook.com/apmagonline 2 AP SUBSCRIBE FOR YOUR OWN FREE COPY AT AP.ORG.AU Australian churches, 10 years behind Scotland’s decline, must return to basics. On the precipice David Robertson talks to Mark Powell David Robertson is a Reformed Scottish in the early church didn’t make you and wrong. I think it’s right when it minister, blogger and podcaster. He has popular, but it did make you claims that we shouldn’t have sexual been minister of St. Peter's Free Church significant. So, a lot of what I do is harassment. However, I think it’s also in Dundee, Scotland, since October motivate people to speak up and show an overreaction because sexual 1992, and was Moderator of the Free how we are offering something very, harassment occurs in many different Church of Scotland for 2015-2016. You very different. ways that are not mentioned by the can follow him online at theweeflea.com The University of Western Sydney movement. For example, I’ve been sexually harassed as a white male. Here, he is interviewed by Mark Powell. had a course for teachers on gender, and they were told that Further, we have the appalling situation David, you’ve been very influential they couldn’t reference any where children are being groomed by in the Scottish scene by engaging outside sources or they would be an education system which tells them in what is referred to as “public marked down. What do you think that they can choose their sexuality or theology”. What have you about some of the changes gender as they please. And whether we observed from your time in coming into tertiary education like it or not, that is “grooming”. It’s Australia about some of the that control our thoughts? got nothing to do about health; it’s really various approaches we have about sexualising children. Then, on regarding the issue? Well, the scariest thing that I’ve seen the other hand, we’ve got people saying, since I’ve been here is the University of “Oh, it’s terrible, he gave me a hug!” Well, I don’t think we should use the NSW and their Sexual Ethics There’s a shocking inconsistency here. methodology of the world, and this is Committee. It’s comprised of two You have said that Australia is where I would disagree with those who students and two members of staff. culturally 10 years behind think that we should play the world’s One of the stated rules of this Scotland. Can you describe what game. I don’t think the “salt and light” committee is that “We do not accept might be ahead for us? thing is essentially about being nice to normal rules of evidence”. They actually people. Like the church father have that in writing! This is nothing Well, unfortunately, our “progressive” Tertullian, I think we need to stand out less than Chairman Mao’s red brigades! politicians are the same as yours. But as being different – to be “salt and It proves, I think, that when you it’s very important for us to understand light”. When you are different, many remove the Christian foundations of that progressive actually means people will not like you. In his Apology , society you lose important principles of “regressive”. We are regressing into a written in the 3rd century AD, justice like “people are innocent until Greco-Roman pagan view of the world Tertullian writes: “If the Tiber floods proven guilty”. that focuses on the worship of the body, the city, or if the Nile refuses to rise, or Do you think we’re seeing a abortion, infanticide, sexual if the sky withholds its rain, if there is parallel to that in the #MeToo exploitation and a growing gap between an earthquake, a famine, a pestilence, at movement? rich and poor. Our culture in not once the cry is raised: 'Christians to the getting better; it’s getting worse. lions’.” Clearly, standing for the gospel The #MeToo movement is both right What do you think are some of the “The education system tells children they main factors in the Church of Scotland’s spiritual collapse in can choose their sexuality or gender as regards to this? they please. And whether we like it or not It is important to understand that the that is ‘grooming’.” church where I serve, St Peter’s, Dundee , SUMMER 2018/19 3 had been at the centre of a great spiritual that we select one particular group, for converted who had been the leader of revival. This was the church of Robert example, the poor or rich. Instead, it the Scottish National Party. He walked Murray McCheyne, through whose tells us to take the gospel to everyone. into my church one day, when we were preaching the Holy Spirit used to attract about 70 or 80 people and I recognised Interestingly, when I first went to St over 1000 people to Sunday worship. him. I said to him afterwards, “How Peter’s, Dundee, I was asked, “Well, In the 1851 census at least 50% of the did you find it?” And he said, “That what’s your strategy?” And I said, “To population of Dundee were linked to was interesting”. I said, “Interesting is preach the Word and see what happens.” the Free Church – the denomination St an ‘interesting’ word. What do you And they said, “No, no, no! What’s Peters had helped form. mean by it?” And he said, “Well, I’m your ?” And I said, “That IS the strategy not used to someone speaking for more Nevertheless, within 30 years this strategy.” Frankly, I haven’t a clue than 10 minutes for a start.” I said, denomination went into a death spiral what’s going to happen when I do this, “OK”. (I preach for about 30 to 40 in the 19th century when it introduced but God will make something happen. minutes). But he and his wife came a really destructive form of teaching I think a lot of churches say, we’ll preach back and they both professed their faith into Scottish society. It was called the word but we will determine what’s and became members with us. Higher Criticism. Higher Criticism did going to happen. So, they say, “We’re more than anything else to undermine going to reach the Chinese, we’re going But he asked to see me one day. And faith in the Bible. And in my book on to do this, we’re going to reach the rich, this may be helpful for you to know. Robert Murray McCheyne I said, “The we’re going to reach the middle class, He said, “David, this is unbelievable the message you’ve got. At Stirling church allowed a falsehood to take hold we’re going to reach the student body,” University in the 1950s I was in the within itself that took until the 1950s and I say, “No, preach the Word and Scottish National Party when it was to really manifest itself.” So, in the see what happens.” 1960s when the sexual revolution hit very small. We planned in 100 years to us, the church folded like a pack of So, in our church it was largely young have a Scottish government. We got it cards because it had lost its back-bone people who came through the ministry in 50 years and I’m absolutely which was its faith in Scripture as the of the Word and this was really unusual delighted.