Hate Crime a Christian Doctor National Reform in Great Britain

From the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland | February 2021 Hate Crime Pages 3-4 A Christian Doctor Pages 5-6 National Reform in Great Britain Pages 14-16 CONTENTS EDITORIAL Dear readers, This edition of Good News commences a few new series. First, in our practical section we hope to look at different vocations over the next while to see how it makes a difference doing them from a Christian perspective. Since Christ is Lord of the workplace it should impact the way we work – an activity that we spend much of our lives doing. Each article will be written by a different person with a different job. CONTEMPORARY ISSUES Another new series of articles comes to us from Hate Crime | Rev. Dr. Tim Donachie ........................................................... 3-4 the RP Global Alliance and is being published in the PRACTICAL various magazines of the RP denominations. We are Vocation: A Christian Doctor | Dr. James Fraser �� 5-6 thankful that the Global Alliance has taken on this work and we look forward to reading the contevnt DOCTRINAL from RP ministers around the world. The Marks of the Church: Part Three | Rev. William R. Matthess ..........7-8 The Beauty of Unity | Rev. Andrew Stewart �� 9-10 The third new addition to Good News is a reprint of VISUAL THEOLOGY ........................................................................................... 11 an address from the First International Convention of Reformed Presbyterian Church in 1896. This particular CHURCH HISTORY address on National Reform was given by Rev. John John Owen: A Life Lived for Christ | Whitney Gamble �� 12-13 McDonald, a former minister of Airdrie. I must National Reform in Great Britain | Rev. John Macdonald �� 14-16 confess that I had to lightly edit the address to fit INTERVIEW the constraints of our magazine. It is hoped that An Interview with | Melville-Knox Christian Schools ...................... 17-19 more of such historic addresses can be included NEWS in future editions. I feel like there is much hidden Congregational & News Presbytery .......................................................... 20-21 treasure from our denomination’s past that should Global News �� 22-23 be brought to light. TEENS Q&A All other series remain the same. Tim Donachie What does the Bible say about Teenagers’ Relationships with their Parents? writes on hate speech, an important, contemporary Rev. Peter Loughridge .............................................................................................................. 24 topic as it is being actively considered by the Scottish Children’s Story & Quiz �� 25-26 Government. Bill Matthess continues his series on Recommended Reading ................................................................................... 27 the marks of the church. We’re thankful that Whitney Poster .............................................................................................................. 28 Gamble has written for our Church History section on John Owen. Whitney is well known to some of our denomination as she spent time in North Edinburgh while working on her PhD. Once again, the teenage and children’s pages have useful content. Please encourage your children or grandchildren to take a read. Every blessing, Stephen To subscribe email [email protected] Editor – Rev. Stephen McCollum, Stornoway RPCS | Assistant Editor – Scott Maciver | Website – www.rpcscotland.org Page 2 Contemporary Issues Rev. Dr. Tim Donachie Hate Crime It is generally accepted in Christian other, and where there have been proposed Bill, it would command circles that the rulers of a country numerous revivals of vital religion widespread acceptance, but sadly, the are due respect and honour because throughout the succeeding centuries, more the proposed Bill is studied, the of the position they hold; ‘the there is now a government in power more it appears that its purpose is to authorities that exist are appointed that bit by bit is seeking to undermine curtailfreedom of speech, especially by God’ Romans 13:1, but it becomes or destroy fundamental Christian concerning those activities that are increasingly difficult to give due teaching and practice based on the condemned in the Word of God. honour when the authorities plan to infallible Word of God; from denying implement laws which strike at the parents the right to discipline their When the new list of ‘protected very heart of Christian belief and children according to the teaching of characteristics’ is examined, it is clear practice. This must have been the scripture, through to the iniquitous to see the direction of government situation facing believers in the early ‘named person’ project and now the thinking. The present list of ‘protected years of the New Testament church introduction of the so-called ‘Hate characteristics’ is to be extended when Roman authorities sought Crime’ Bill which, at the time of to include age, disability, religion or to ban Christianity, but we should writing, is going through its various perceived religious affinity, sexual not think that such days are left stages in the Scottish parliament. orientation, transgender identity behind in the mists of history or are and variations in sex characteristics, confined to countries that practice It may seem strange that Christian so that certain groups of people are an exclusive religion such as Islam. people should be concerned about to have more protection under the legislation that seeks to ensure that law than others. Writing in ‘Spiked In a land where the reformation took people are treated fairly and kindly, online’ Carlton Brick, a lecturer in a stronger hold than in almost any and if that were the intention of the the school of education and social Page 3 science at the University of the It is not that Christians are looking What, then, should be the Christian’s West of Scotland says, “The Hate for excuses to abuse or vilify response? It will always be a comfort Crime Bill would introduce a series anybody, we are commanded to love to Christian believers to remember of seven ‘protected characteristics’, our neighbour as we love ourselves, that none of the attempts of men which would allow the Scottish even if we abhor what our neighbour or of governments to dethrone courts to punish a hate crime much believes and practices, but there Christ or to destroy his kingdom can more severely than other offences. has to be thefreedom to expose, possibly succeed! God is sovereign Offences committed against victims criticise and reject the views and and he has given rule over all things who are covered by these ‘protected practices of others, without being to his beloved son, the Lord Jesus accused of hatred and of criminal characteristics’ would be subject to Christ and he is working out his a higher tariff”. So, for a Christian activity! Christians as individuals, and churches as bodies, have a duty purposes for the good of his people to say or to write that there are but and the glory of his own name. It is two sexes, and that it is impossible placed upon them by the sovereign God to declare the truth without fear also important to realise that we live for a man or woman to change sex, in a godless world and must expect could be seen as ‘stirring up hatred’ or favour. The fact that a government constant attacks from the evil one. against the so-called transgender declares that a particular thing is true, As long as the child of God is in community, even if there were does not make it so! The church is to this world, he will have a constant no intention of stirring up hatred, declare the truth as revealed in the merely the expression of a view. The struggle against the world, the flesh worry would be that all that it would and the devil and God has provided take would be for somebody to state both defensive and offensive weapons that they had been offended for the The fact to enable the believer to stand. Eph. police to initiate action. The severe that a 6:10-20. restrictions that the proposed Bill With regard to the practical things places on the citizen’sfreedom of government that can and must be done, there are speech is truly alarming. Even the three: National Secular Society, who initially declares that a welcomed the removal of the offense particular thing 1. Prayer. If believers really understood of blasphemy, now warn that the the severity of the attacks that are provisions of the Bill on religious is true, does not being launched against the church, hatred risk, ‘a de facto clampdown make it so! The they would pray more earnestly that onfreedom of expression’. There is God would be pleased to intervene no doubt that if the Bill is passed, church is to on behalf of his church. They would Scotland will become the most pray for those in authority, that God aggressive regulator of citizens’ declare the truth would cause them to see the folly of speech in the UK. as revealed in the trusting in their own wisdom rather The Bill, as originally presented, unchangeable on the wisdom that God supplies. has come under fierce criticism Never forget that God has defeated from many sectors of society, from Word of God armies and destroyed kingdoms in churches to the National Secular the past, and he can do it again!

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