CHRISTIAN UNITY WEEK 2007
In line with the policy of the Free Presbyterian Church as a whole,
Cork FPC will not be partaking in the "Prayers for Christian Unity
Week" We take this stance for very strong, positive and Scriptural
grounds.
1) WE CAN DISASSOCIATE OURSELVES COMPLETELY FROM THE SHADY ORIGINS OF THIS WEEK OF PRAYER FOR SO CALLED CHRISTIAN UNITY:
The origins of this week are given on the Pope's website.
Briefly put, the founders of this Week Of Prayer for Christian Unity
were originally Anglican clergymen. The year after they formally begun
praying for Christian Unity (1908) they and the society they begun (The
Society of the Atonement) were received into communion with the Church
of Rome. Click here for our comments on whether or not the Church of
Rome is a Christian Church. It is clear from reading the history of
this week of prayer that "Christian Unity" means unity with the Church
of Rome under the authority of the Pope. This is neither evangelical,
Protestant or Biblical.
2) IT ENABLES US TO SEND OUT A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD:
If we embrace the idea that Rome is a Christian Church, then we
tacitly give our support to her doctrine of salvation by grace plus
works. Even after Rome's semantic experts have all said their piece,
this is still her official doctrine. We are saved by grace...we get
grace through the sacraments...we must be worthy to receive the
sacraments. This is a doctrine that Cain could quite heartily go along
with. Where there would be a desire to wash hands from these
implications, then there must be an actual washing of hands from this
Week of Prayer itself. Pilate thought he could wash his hands from
crucifying Christ, but still handed him over to be crucified (Matthew
27:46) Later on, Pilate is still indicted with the crime (Acts 4:27)
By standing aloof from this Week of Prayer, no one is in any doubt as
to where we stand on the doctrine of salvation by grace plus works. Our
separation only serves to magnify the free grace of God...not deny it.
Objection: Does Rome's identity with Protestant Churches not mean that
she is giving tacit support to the doctrine of salvation by grace
alone? (Same argument applied the other way)
Answer: No! Truth is usually the causality in events like these. The
Apostles never viewed the mixing of truth with error as beneficial to
truth. This is why so much of the New Testament deals with the danger
of false teaching in the Church. In an imperfect world, the one bad
apple pollutes the ninety nine others in the barrel.
3) IT HELPS US MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF ANY ORDINATION VOWS TO UPHOLD THE TEACHING OF THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH:
I find it staggering that men who swore before God and the congregation
at their ordination to uphold the Protestant Confessions of their
Church can find it in their hearts to have fellowship with the Church
of Rome. How can men who swore to uphold the Westminster Confession of
Faith with its severe denunciations of the fundamental doctrines of the
Papacy have fellowship with Roman Catholic priests - even having such
along with nuns etc., preaching and teaching in their churches? The
same may be said for those who assented to the 39 Articles of Religion
(Anglican) or the teaching of the great Protestant, John Wesley
(Methodist) A Church of Ireland clergyman once confessed on RTE radio
to having difficulties sleeping at night because of his misgivings of
how people associated him with the 39 Articles of his religion. We are
left wondering...Why did he agree to them in the first place? His arm
was not screwed up his back nor a gun put to his head when he formally
and publicly gave his assent. Why then did he do it?
By standing aloof from this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, those
who made their ordination vows can have a clear conscience. When the
head goes down on this subject, there is something radically wrong.
Hardening the conscience is not the answer.
4) IT PREVENTS US FROM STUMBLING WEAK BRETHREN WHO CAN ONLY BE CONFUSED AS THEY SEE MEN PROFESS ONE THING BUT DO ANOTHER:
God has some pretty severe things to say to those who cause little ones to stumble, especially teaching them so.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it
were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world
because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe
to that man by whom the offence cometh! (Matthew 18:6-7)
Ecumenism is not a Romans 14 matter. Ecumenism is a Galatians 1-2
matter. Again to refer to RTE radio, a recent report about Lough Derg
and St Patrick's "purgatory" made specific mention of Presbyterian
people visiting the shrine. The Parish Priest said that he was very
happy to welcome people of all faiths. We don't doubt his words for one
moment. It is a long way from the Bible based faith of Presbyterianism
to sitting in a idol ridden island in Lough Derg, but the journey is
made all the shorter by those who support this week of prayer.
By our separating from these things, those who are weak in their
perception of spiritual matters will be able to see where truth really
does lie and grow stronger in its defence.
5) IT SENDS WORD TO THE
ENEMIES OF THE GOSPEL, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE
STILL DETERMINED TO RESIST THEM IN THEIR PREACHING OF ANOTHER GOSPEL:
Although we do not make enemies out of individual Roman Catholics or
even out of Roman Catholic priests in their personal capacity, we must
however view those who propagate salvation by grace plus works as
enemies of the gospel. How they must be pleased to see Protestant
ministers turn up and take part in prayers for the unity of Christendom
under the authority of the Pope! How they must be pleased to be
welcomed into Protestant pulpits - often built in earlier and better
days by faithful Protestant money - to propagate their doctrines.
Perhaps not overtly but (to quote Peter) privily and with feigned
words.
It has been acknowledged by various ecumenists over the years that the
strong evangelicalism in Northern Ireland has set held back the advance
of ecumenism on this island. I am glad that in the churches I have been
associated with (both inside and outside the FPC) that ecumenism was
repudiated and a strong stand taken. This involved non involvement and
pulpit denunciation of the betrayal that is taking place in
Protestantism.
The gospel cause, south of the border, need not be completely lost.
These few words are penned to try and bolster this cause. We know that
the cause of the apostate is lost. The Church of Jesus Christ is being
built and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18)
However, God uses means to reach His ordained end and part of those
means is for His people to cry aloud and spare not concerning error.
Where would we be if Luther and Calvin had not so raised their voice?
THE END
Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt
(Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland