Vol. 57 No. 9 | September 2023

£2.00

Mike Judge, Editor

A former soldier is being prosecuted in criminal court for praying silently near an abortion clinic in Bournemouth.

Adam Smith-Connor is charged with praying on 24 November 2022 near an abortion facility on Orphir Road in Bournemouth.

The clinic is within an ‘abortion facility censorship zone’, also known as a ‘buffer zone’, where protests against abortion are banned.

In the past, Smith-Connor had paid for his ex-girlfriend to have an abortion – a decision he now deeply regrets.

He says he was praying about his experience, about the son whom he lost, and for the men and women facing difficult decisions about abortion today.

He prayed with his back to the facility to avoid any impression of approaching or engaging with women using the facility. But he was issued a fixed penalty notice on 13

December 2022. The notice detailed that he had been ‘praying for his deceased son’ a month earlier.

He appeared before Poole Magistrates’ Court on 9 August where he pleaded not guilty.

Outside the court he said, ‘We are standing in the nation of the Magna Carta, the nation which has championed democracy and freedom.

‘We have a history of upholding human rights we can be proud of, and a respect for freedom that I fought to uphold when I served this country for twenty years in the army reserves, including in Afghanistan.

‘Yet here I stand before you on the steps of Poole Magistrates Court being prosecuted – for a thought crime.

‘The facts of my case are clear. I am accused of breaching an abortion clinic buffer zone by praying for my son Jacob and other victims of abortion, for

their families, and for abortion clinic staff on Ophir Road Bournemouth.

‘I did not approach anyone, I did not speak to anyone, I did not breach anyone’s privacy. I simply stood silently. I am being tried for the prayerful thoughts I held in my head.’

He is being supported by religious liberty group Alliance Defending Freedom UK.

Spokesman Jeremiah Igunnubole said, ‘This marks the third time this year that we at ADF UK have come to the defence of a citizen facing charges simply for their thoughts, exercised in a public space.

‘If Adam had been thinking about an issue other than abortion – for example, climate change – then there would be no hearing taking place today.

‘Citizens in this country should be equally free to hold thoughts about the important social issue of abortion, and how it has impacted their lives and the lives of their loved ones.’

Adam Smith-Connor (Source: ADF UK)

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants to ‘clear up’ questions about the definition of a woman, and says he now finally accepts that a ‘woman is an adult female’.

Back in April, he claimed that ‘99.9 per cent of women do not have a penis’,

and in 2021, he said it was ‘not right’ to say only women have a cervix, amid a row with one of his own MPs – Rosie Duffield.

The Labour Party still wants to make it much easier for people to legally change their sex, but has backed away

from allowing mere self-identification laws.

It now says, if elected to government, it will change the law so that just one doctor is required to diagnose an applicant with gender dysphoria, rather than two under the current law.

The Labour Party is trying to avoid the mistakes made by the Scottish National Party, which introduced very liberal and deeply unpopular transgender policy. The policy coincided with a male rapist being allowed to enter a female prison.

Paul Smithasks:

2 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

The Department for Education has still not published guidance on whether teachers can refer to pupils by their legal and biological gender.

A written question in Parliament asked whether the government would issue guidance to clarify whether teachers may refer to pupils by their legal and biological gender.

The question, by Lord Pearson, referred to the recent case of Joshua Sutcliffe, a teacher who was banned from the profession for misgendering a pupil.

Responding for the government, Baroness Barran, parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, said the department recognised that it was a ‘complex’ issue.

She said, ‘The department recognises that gender is a complex and sensitive issue, and that some schools and colleges feel that they need more support in this area in order to help pupils, students and parents deal with concerns raised.

‘That is why the department is working with the Minister for Women and Equalities to develop guidance to support schools and colleges in relation to gender questioning children.’

She added, ‘The department has committed to publishing a draft for consultation at the earliest opportunity.’

Commenting on the government’s responses, Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern said, ‘It is shocking that the government has refused to support teachers who wish to refer to pupils by their legal and biological gender. Legal and biological gender is not complicated.

‘No teacher should face disciplinary sanctions for speaking the truth about who a pupil is in law and biology. Contrary to what the government said, legal and biological gender is not complex.’

John Denning, Head of Education at The Christian Institute said, ‘It is immensely disappointing that this guidance is delayed yet again.

‘While the government vacillates, children are left at the mercy of a wild west in schools, where misunderstandings of the law and disinformation in “advice” from groups with their own agenda advance to fill the vacuum.

‘Children are being harmed. When individuals try to raise concerns, those concerns are often dismissed, sometimes along with the person raising them.’ Denning referenced a recent case involving

a school governor in Gateshead who was removed because she raised concerns about sex education lessons which encouraged children to question their own gender.

He said, ‘It’s the government’s job to take a lead on this issue. They cannot avoid controversy, so must take a stand to protect children in our schools through decisive, determined action, which is needed now.’

National News

NEWS IN BRIEF

Drag camp

postponed

A council-sponsored drag queen camp for 14 to 18-year-olds was postponed amid accusations of ‘sexualising’ children. Ticket sales for ‘Drag Camp’, supported by Oxford City Council, were suspended while an investigation took place. T(ART) Productions, the company behind the five-day event, said its ‘signature style’ is ‘unmistakably camp, queer, and eclectic’.

Cocaine use

has surged

Cocaine use has risen 25 per cent in some major UK cities over just one year, new research suggests. The National Crime Agency said that its waste water analysis in cities such as London and Manchester more effectively determines the quantity and type of drugs being consumed than its previous estimates based on surveys and seized drugs.

Women’s rowing

events protected

Only biological women will be able to compete in Women’s Category competitions, British Rowing has announced. Reversing its 2022 decision, which allowed men to compete in women’s events, the governing body said the new policy was necessary to ‘guarantee fair and meaningful competition’.

Costa Coffee

in hot water

Coffee chain Costa Coffee has come under fire for promoting an image of a transman on its Express vans. The cartoon image showed a blue-haired person sporting double mastectomy scars and drinking from a Costa Coffee cup. Critics on social media said this was harmful and insensitive to breast cancer survivors.

King Lawal (Credit: Christian Legal Centre)

A Christian Conservative councillor has vowed to launch legal action after being cancelled by seven organisations for sharing a tweet on the biblical position on LGBT Pride events.

King Lawal, 31, who has been a councillor at North Northamptonshire Unitary Council for two years, said he has had his ‘life torn apart’.

He has been suspended by the Conservative party pending an investigation and was warned of a possible police investigation.

The Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Lawal, said the repercussions faced by the councillor are ‘unprecedented’.

It sends out the message, they added, that Christians who hold public office can no longer express their beliefs without having their careers and lives dismantled.

Leading up to his tweet on 29 June, Cllr Lawal had

followed threads by GB News presenter Calvin Robinson, one of which revealed naked men illegally parading through streets in front of children

during LGBT Pride events. As a Bible-believing Christian, he believed what was happening was wrong and ‘sinful’. In a rare post, he said, ‘When did pride become a thing to celebrate? Because of pride, Satan fell as an archangel.

‘Pride is not a virtue but a sin. Those who have Pride should repent of their sins and return to Jesus Christ. He can save you. #PrideMonth #Pride23 #PrideParade.’

Although he clarified he was not attacking individuals but presenting the biblical view on sin and the need for redemption, he was contacted by the leader of North Northamptonshire Unitary Council, who told him that he was suspended for 21 days pending an investigation.

Lawal was also told that the membership governance team at Conservative Campaign HQ was advising the party to suspend him and wanted the investigation to be centralised rather than local. He was told

that a standards inquiry would also follow.

Following this call, without discussion, he was then dismissed as a trustee of Groundwork Northampton, an initiative which helps disadvantaged children access green spaces.

The following day he was suspended as an Academy Council member for Weavers Academy, a school for 11–18 year olds.

He was then removed as a governor of Northampton Healthcare Foundation Trust and then banned from holding a joint Police and Council surgery in the local Rushden & Irthlingborough LibraryPlus.

Within days, a local authority that holds a substantial council contract with Lawal’s family business ordered an urgent meeting.

The family were given an ultimatum that unless Lawal was removed immediately as a director, the contract would be withdrawn.

Baroness Barran (Credit: UK Parliament)

Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 3

National News

Jeremy Hunt (Credit: HM Treasury)

The chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, has said banks should not be allowed to close people’s accounts simply because they disagree with their views.

Hunt called on the City regulator to get on top of the situation and defend the right to free speech.

He wrote a strongly worded letter to Nikhil Rathi, the chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

He wrote, ‘Free speech is a fundamental human right. You can agree or disagree with Nigel Farage, but everyone must be

able to express their opinions. In today’s society, you need a bank account to function and so a threat to be de-banked is a threat to your right to express your opinions.

‘We have regulations – Regulation 18 of the Payments Accounts Regulations – that ban this so-called de-banking of people for their political views.’

Hunt said the FCA had the right to ‘fine banks very large sums of money if they find this practice is widespread’, and demanded to know what the regulator was doing about it.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated in Parliament, ‘It wouldn’t be right if financial

services were being denied to anyone exercising their right to lawful free speech.’

The FCA said it had started a review into the situation and was demanding data from banks to see how many customer accounts had been closed recently, and for what reason.

As reported in last month’s edition of ET, the Revd Richard Fothergill revealed to the media that he had had his bank account closed for politely opposing Yorkshire Building Society’s promotion of transgender ideology.

At the time, Revd Fothergill said the Building

Society is ‘a financial house – they are not there to do social engineering.

‘I think they should concentrate their efforts on managing money, instead of promoting LGBT ideology.

‘I know cancel culture exists and this is my first first-hand experience of it. I wouldn’t want this bullying to happen to anyone else.’

In addition, a Christian charity recently won over £20,000 in settlement of a legal action brought after its bank account was shut by Barclays Bank. The charity also lost its account with online giant PayPal.

Parent-led campaign group Parent Power has unveiled a list of church schools that have been awarded the status of ‘Stonewall Champions’.

The list, which was compiled in 2019, has been reported on the Parent Power website, with the caveat that more may have been added – and some may have stepped back since.

However, Parent Power has warned of the ‘promotion and imposition’ of LGBT ideology onto children in the care of Church of England (CofE) schools across England.

It claimed this was ‘an approach typified by the document Valuing All God’s Children (2014; revised 2019)’.

It also revealed some Roman Catholic schools who have also become champions, although the Roman Catholic church has not publicly acknowledged such formal ties with Stonewall. Through becoming

Stonewall Champions, individual schools have taken extra steps in support of the LGBT agenda.

A few examples include: schools having gender-neutral toilets and a gender-neutral uniform policy; making the whole curriculum ‘LGBT-inclusive’ (so every single subject taught regularly incorporates gay and trans content), including RSE, so pupils learn about the full range of homosexual activities in a way that puts them on a par with heterosexual relations.

Parent Power said, ‘Parents are probably unaware if their child’s faith school is in support of Stonewall; however, if your school is on the list, we recommend approaching the school and its governing body to see if they are still affiliated to Stonewall, and, if so, to challenge that affiliation.’

Altogether, there are 353 Stonewall Champion schools in England known to Parent Power, and 171 of those are church schools.

The government must not legalise assisted suicide because it risks posing a ‘serious threat’ to disabled people, campaigners have told MPs.

Before the summer recess, the Health and Social Care Committee published an anonymised transcript of a roundtable discussion it held in May as part of its inquiry into assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Four representatives of disability groups in the UK strongly voiced their objections to any changes in the law, concerned that loosening the law could leave vulnerable people at risk.

One campaigner said they were ‘uneasy’ about the value that society seemed to place on disabled people’s lives.

They said it seemed to be presenting a ‘cheaper’ option to suggest assisted suicide than to have the state pay for health and social care needs.

The campaigner added, ‘If you have palliative care that works really well, people are less likely to want to ask for assisted suicide.’

Another campaigner said there were a lot of misconceptions about what people with disabilities really want.

They said, ‘I don’t think there is a single deaf and disabled people’s organisation that’s in favour of legalisation.’

The campaigner also expressed the fear that people in distress might see assisted suicide as an ‘easy way out’, not because of disability or pain, ‘but just because they can’t access basic support’.

However, as revealed by The Christian Institute, a senior team

member from Swiss business Dignitas told MPs in June that mentally ill people should be allowed to choose to be killed by assisted suicide.

Steve Brine MP, Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee (Credit: UK Parliament)

4 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 5

By Dan and Sara Downey

European Mission Fellowship held its annual Ballymoney conference in Ballymoney Baptist Church in May. With some 130 people filling the church, Phil Dunn (EMF’s NI Representative) introduced the theme of the event: ‘Here we stand! Not ashamed of the gospel!’

In a world that we all know is changing rapidly, Phil reminded us that we are called to stand firm, courageously contending for the truth. This set the tone for the morning, which included missionary news, panel discussions, and book reviews.

The first main portion of the conference was a panel interview, chaired by Phil, with

Church News

By Andy Little

The Open-Air Mission London Week of outreach in June is a busy, tiring, but exhilarating time of presenting the gospel in some of central London’s tourist spots. As they say, ‘Come to London and speak to the world!’

With visually-aided preaching and the book table, the team were able to speak personally to Londoners, workers, and tourists from all over the world, including people from ‘closed countries’. Some of these gladly took literature which is banned in their homeland.

Over 120 Gospels of John were requested by people who had been listening to the gospel presentations, as well as many other items. Like Paul in Athens, we were able to ‘reason daily in the marketplace with those who happened to be there’.

Leicester Square continues to be a great place to evangelise in the evenings. People are relaxed and mill around as they wait for a movie, a theatre, or a meal. Here and in Oxford Circus the team joined with local Christians in their regular witness.

Piccadilly Circus is another tourist spot where the team had good conversations on the person and work of Christ while people were either sitting on the steps of the Shaftesbury monument or stopping to listen as they passed by.

Covent Garden was very busy with city workers and tourists; the team were encouraged with the many conversations there. The enthusiastic team comprised Open-Air Mission workers, volunteers from around the country, and local Christians who joined us for the day.

By Free Church of Scotland

The first ever Teens’ Conference took place at Lendrick Muir, Kinross, in June. It was a joy to have 35 teens coming together to hear teaching from Andy Longwe on Daniel, being reminded that God is good, always.

We also had seminars on living for Jesus in various areas of our lives, as well as plenty of fun.

We asked the attendees to write a report on the conference and here’s what they had to say: ‘We really enjoyed Andy’s talks, he’s really interesting to listen to and kept our attention even when we were tired!

‘The talks were relevant to what we are going through. Daniel was also a teenager and it was great to get some

Bible advice from thousands of years ago that is still relevant today. Andy applied it in a way that was easy to understand and very helpful.

‘Andy’s testimony was also encouraging, relevant, and thought-provoking. His unique testimony showed how good God is and this was very powerful.

‘The seminars were very helpful as they focused on issues teenagers face in society today, which was very relevant.

‘The cooking was also delectable! The cooks took very good care of us and the wonderful food which was provided gave us a sufficient amount of energy so that we could praise the Lord. We also thoroughly enjoyed the acoustics throughout the building; singing together is great fun and we loved it.’

Tobias Haslund-Thomsen (EMF Missionary in Aarhus, Denmark), Iliya Marinov (EMF Missionary in Ruse, Bulgaria), and Trevor Watson (Crosslinks Missionary in Sweden).

They introduced their missionary work and shared some of the challenges faced in Denmark, Bulgaria, and Sweden. Although these challenges differed in some ways, the panel concurred that evangelical faith across Europe has nearly been wiped out.

The panel also agreed that when challenged by ever-increasing secularism, our confidence in standing firm grows when people see the transformational power of the Bible in our lives. Our actions should match our words.

In a video interview, Sharon James (Christian Institute) talked through the toxic worldview of self-importance. She explained that in reality the biblical worldview provides the foundation of society.

Sharon asserted that we should not be cowed by Western worldviews, that we should encourage one another, and that we should sit under ministry that affirms the truth of God.

Finally, Trevor Watson preached from Acts 4:23-31, summarising that the goal of evangelical churches is not survival. The aim is success in speaking God’s Word to others and an increase in people added to the church.

6 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

By Artur Piotrowski

Grace Baptist Church Maidstone is a new church plant that was formally constituted in June. This followed a vote of the members of Ryarsh Baptist Church (Ryarsh is a village 10 miles from Maidstone) to relocate.

Grace Baptist Partnership has helped us plant the church by providing financial support, counsel, and prayer.

They have also sent an evangelist (Daniel Shwe, minister at Grace Baptist Church, North Watford) who helps us one day a week with evangelistic outreach in the city centre through a literature table and door-to-door ministry.

Daniel has been a wonderful help in the cause of evangelism. He is a faithful servant of Christ and a dear brother to the members of our church.

Why relocate to Maidstone? While still meeting as Ryarsh Baptist Church, we had a couple within our membership who were traveling from Maidstone.

Early last year another person joined our membership through baptism who also lives in Maidstone.

Last June, when I was getting married, the only affordable housing local to Ryarsh was in Maidstone. Relocating the church increasingly seemed a wise move!

Moreover, the Lord began opening doors for evangelistic outreach at a local market

Church News

in Maidstone, giving us many new contacts and people who were telling us that they wished for a biblical church to be planted in Maidstone.

Grace Baptist Partnership advised us to test Maidstone for an initial period of three months to see if there would be any signs of encouragement and blessing from the Lord before making the final decision to relocate.

Meetings began in April. The first Sunday brought encouragement when we had four visitors who came from the market outreach and three more people from another local church.

Soon after, the Lord brought a Christian family which has been a great blessing to

us. We continued to receive a number of visitors. On a typical Sunday, we have 15 people attending.

We are currently in the middle of running a membership course with two people who wish to join the church. We hold midweek Bible study and prayer meetings, and my wife Monika leads women’s meetings.

The series with which I started our first church services was called ‘Devoted’, based on Acts 2. Among other topics, we’ve considered the basics of what the church is, who Christ is, and what the gospel is. A good place for ministry at a church plant to start!

By Jack Seaton

It was a joy to attend and participate in the induction service of Pastor Gearoid Marley in April.

Over 130 people attended, including Christian friends from local congregations as well as other fellowships from Glasgow, Dundee, and Stornaway. Friends and family travelled from other parts of the UK as well.

There were greetings from congregations from Devon, Suffolk, Salisbury, Wales, and other like-minded churches. The Kingsview Christian Centre kindly lent the building for the service.

The preacher for the day was Dr David Allen. He delivered a stirring message from 1 Peter 5:1-4 (where the apostle exhorts elders to shepherd their flocks). Dr Allen’s three points were ‘The Flock, the Following, and the Feeding’.

A good number of local ministers and elders said that the message was both convicting and comforting.

Both the church and pastor took vows to uphold and maintain the faithful gospel witness in the area.

Established in 1970, the church is now beginning a new chapter with the appointment of Pastor Gearoid Marley. It was originally founded under the ministry of Pastor Jack Seaton, who was succeeded by Dr Nick Needham. Revd Marley therefore becomes only the third pastor at Telford Road.

Pastor Marley is originally from Southern Ireland. He was brought up as a devout Roman Catholic and studied for the Catholic priesthood as a missionary priest.

He has pastored churches in Birmingham and in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. He also spent some years working for a Christian organisation.

Pastor Marley commenced his current pastoral ministry at Telford Road at the beginning of March. On his appointment, Pastor Marley said, ‘It was a great blessing to be a Christian,

but a double honour to be called to be a preacher of the gospel of God’s saving grace. I look forward to the days ahead, praying God’s blessing upon the local church and the people of Inverness.’

After the induction service, there was a sumptuous tea prepared, and a rich time of

fellowship was enjoyed by everyone. Some presentations were made, and we are truly thankful for the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness to us as a congregation.

Friends, please remember us in prayer as we seek to make known Christ our Saviour in these days.

Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 7

Church News

Grace Baptist Church Wood Green has long been involved in the work of church planting, and this July has launched a new church plant in Enfield Lock.

Through personal exploration, church members’ experiences, and consultation with Enfield-based evangelical churches and Christian workers, the Wood Green church identified Enfield Lock as an area in London very much in need of a local evangelical witness.

After initial explorations in 2021, the church started a midweek meeting in early 2022. Here local people met fortnightly in a home to pursue discipleship and biblical foundations for healthy church life.

The group eventually began meeting weekly, and has continued to grow while moving towards officially planting as a local church.

A significant development has been the introduction of weekly door-to-door evangelism. Already, fruit is being seen from this work: in March, a man was baptised as a believer, having come to Christ following a conversation at his doorstep on his birthday.

His girlfriend subsequently became a Christian and was baptised in May. His sister is also now professing faith and being prepared for baptism, as are other people who have been met through door-to-door evangelism.

The group values prayer as they were set apart and sent out by Grace Baptist Church Wood Green on 25 June to begin Sunday gatherings from the following

week. They continue to seek the Lord’s will for eventually constituting as an autonomous local church with their own leadership and membership.

If you or someone you know lives in the Enfield Lock area and would like to get involved or find out more, please email graceenfieldlock@gmail.com.

By Ryan King

By John Tredgett

In June, several members of Starbeck Mission in Harrogate used a local community event to help bring words of Scripture to passersby.

‘Starbeck in Bloom’ occurs each summer in the North Yorkshire town. First held in 1998, the event sees local organisations transform Starbeck’s high street using colourful displays and decorations.

Starbeck Mission, a church with origins in the Railway Mission of the late 19th century, has often contributed to the festival. This year’s theme was ‘River of Flowers’, and the Mission used the occasion as an outreach opportunity.

A large-print display of the words of Genesis 1:1 was attached to the railings at the front of the church building.

Knitters among the congregation were invited to produce a variety of flowers to help decorate the words. Several hundred flowers were produced and attached to the 9-metre long banner.

Hazel Hunt, a member of Starbeck Mission, told ET why the first verse of the Bible was chosen: ‘We wanted to point passersby to the Creator God,’ she said, ‘and to get people thinking about spiritual things.’

The Mission was one of twelve local organisations taking part in Starbeck in Bloom; an award will be given for the best display sometime in September. Responses from locals have been ‘very positive,’ Hazel said. ‘Many said they would vote for us!’

But what becomes of the 9-metre banner now? ‘We intend to leave it up for several weeks,’ said Hazel. ‘After all, a lot of work went into it!’

By William Horsburgh

In June, an anniversary service was held by Ryedale Evangelical Church in Pickering, North Yorkshire. Thanks was given to God for his establishment and sustaining of the fellowship for four decades.

The minister, William Horsburgh, gave an overview of the church’s history, tracing its beginnings to the unexpected conversion of one of its original members in Sheffield in 1968, and through her the conversion of her husband, neighbour, and others.

This led to contact with Revd Peter Brumby of Sleights (and later of Whitby Evangelical Church), who began leading weekly Bible studies in his home

their search for a new leader, who eventually proved to be William Horsburgh. He became minister of Ryedale Evangelical Church in 1987.

The church met in several places over the years, finally settling at Middleton Chapel, a former Methodist building.

An active commitment to gospel preaching continues, and evangelism has allowed the congregation to take the gospel to nearly every home from Helmsley to Thornton-le-dale.

The congregation has never been large, but the Lord has sustained them through many trials and joys. They are currently looking to the Lord to provide a new leader to take the work on into the future.

in Pickering. This in turn led to a group of believers meeting in Pickering to worship the Lord on Sundays.

The intrusion of teaching on charismatic gifts brought about a division in the group, and those who opposed the new teachings began travelling 20 miles each week to the then-fledgling Whitby Evangelical Church.

However, when the group sought to establish themselves more locally, Revd Keith Morris, a member of York Evangelical Church, took up the role of pastoring the group. Sunday meetings duly began at a school canteen in Kirkbymoorside.

Having received a call to minister in Perth, Australia, Mr Morris guided the church in

8 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

International News

NEWS IN BRIEF

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has upheld Poland’s pro-life protection for unborn babies with disabilities.

According to a document from the ECHR, the case AM and Others v. Poland saw eight abortion advocates suing the Polish government, saying they had a right to abort unborn babies with foetal abnormalities.

The applicants claimed that, as women of child-bearing age, legal protections for unborn children with special needs or health conditions infringed on their ‘right to respect for family and private life’ as guaranteed in Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

The official court document said, ‘The applicants alleged in particular that, following amendments to the legislative framework in 2020, they have effectively been banned from having access to legal abortion in the case of foetal abnormalities.’

However, the ECHR found that the applicants had ‘failed to provide any convincing medical evidence proving that they had been at real risk of being directly affected by the 2020 legislative amendments’.

Nor had they produced any documents relating to their personal circumstances, making it impossible to assess their individual situations.

The court statement said, ‘The consequences for the applicants of the legislative amendments were thus too remote and abstract for them to arguably claim to be “victims” within the meaning of the European Convention of Human Rights.’

Therefore, the court has unanimously declared the applications inadmissible. The decision is final.

There are around 1,000 applications concerning restrictions on abortion rights due to foetal abnormalities in Poland, received by the Court since 2021 which are still ongoing.

Disability and pro-life campaigners have welcomed the decision from the ECHR. They cited the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states, ‘Every child has a right to life – regardless of her health conditions.

‘Children with special medical needs should be protected and cared for, a truly humane society will care for its weakest members.

‘This is why international law calls for appropriate legal protection [for children], before as well as after birth.’

European Court of Human Rights (Credit: ADF International)

Across Europe, almost all babies who are prenatally diagnosed with Down Syndrome are aborted: nearly 100 per cent in Iceland, 98 per cent in Denmark, and 90 per cent in the United Kingdom.

In 2021, disability campaigner Heidi Crowter took her case to the UK high court, as reported by Evangelical Times, aiming to challenge the law, which allows abortion up to birth for babies with Down’s and other disabilities.

1lb baby thriving

A premature baby born in the US at just 24 weeks and one day, weighing only 1lb 6oz, is now at home after spending 181 days in hospital. Baby Zaylan was also born with a hole in his heart. Doctors said the tiny premature baby was ‘probably not going to make it’, but he has beaten all the odds.

Doctor admits

trans dangers

US surgeon Dr Blair Peters, who has been dubbed ‘Dr Frankenstein’, has revealed the downsides of performing re-shaping surgeries on transgender children and adults. In a video that has since been deleted, he discussed life-changing complications and admitted the procedures are ‘experimental’.

Floods back

in Pakistan

Floods in Sindh, Pakistan, have swept away the homes that were rebuilt after unprecedented flooding in 2022. Pastor Mehboob Ellahi, a resident of Newport, Wales, has asked the British Asian Christian Association for help for Christian families grappling with hunger and homelessness. These families have been overlooked by Muslim aid organisations and the government.

Huge assisted

dying disparity

A Canadian woman says it’s quicker to get assisted dying than assisted living. Rose Finlay suffers paralysis from the neck down. She said there is a ‘huge and detrimental discrepancy’, where it can take up to eight months to receive disability support money, but only takes around three months to qualify for Medical Assistance in Dying.

A Chilean Court has unanimously upheld a family’s right to educational freedom in a landmark home schooling case.

Teenager José Antonio Widow Aldunate sought justice after his high-school diploma was rejected, barring him from university acceptance.

He had been home schooled, participating remotely in a US-based home schooling programme from Marble Falls Academy. The Texas-based school works in partnership with the Argentinian Mare Verum Academy.

But the certificate from the home school curriculum providers and assessors was not recognised by the Chilean Ministry of Education. Because of this, Widow Aldunate was not able to apply to university.

Together with his parents and supported by ADF International, the teenager challenged the Ministry, claiming that the decision to reject Widow Aldunate’s certificate was a ‘discriminatory refusal of recognition’.

The Court has now affirmed that education received at home and certified by a foreign educational institution that

operates under the laws of a foreign power must be recognised for all legal purposes in Chile.

This unanimous decision not only legitimises Widow Aldunate’s diploma, but also opens the door for him to pursue higher education in Chile, and for greater educational freedom in the country.

Speaking after the ruling, Tomás Henríquez, ADF

International’s director of advocacy for Latin America, said, ‘This is a victory for the rights of parents in Chile in line with the guarantees of international human rights law.

‘Parents in Chile, under both the Chilean constitution and international law, have every right to choose the type of education that they believe is best for their children, even programmes abroad.’

The Widow Aldunate family (Credit: ADF International)

According to Henriquez, Chilean law had already made provisions for educational choice, and the decision by the Ministry had been in contravention of it.

He said, ‘When the Ministry rejected Widow Aldunate’s diploma, Chilean authorities undermined the fundamental prerogative of his parents to home school him and his siblings in the manner that they saw fit.

‘In their case, it was a local home school curriculum together with a US-based accreditation programme that met the needs of their family.

‘It is the parents, not the government, who should choose what is best for their children’s education.’

Both the Chilean constitution and international law protects the rights of parents to make choices concerning the education of their children.

Article 19 of Chile’s Political Constitution of the Republic and Article 13 of The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights protect the rights of parents to choose suitable education for their own children.

Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 9

The Slovakian government’s ban on public worship during the coronavirus pandemic was a violation of religious freedom, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has heard.

In a case supported by global religious advocacy group ADF International, Dr Ján Figeľ, a former EU Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, told the Court the Slovak Republic’s prohibition of religious services due to Covid-19 was unlawful.

In 2021, the Slovak Republic prolonged its covid restrictions, banning religious services just as other countries were relaxing restrictions on worship.

Dr Ján Figeľ and ADF International lead lawyer Dr

Adina Portaru argued the restrictions violated both national and international law During the hearing, Dr Figeľ

said, ‘Religious freedom as a basic human right deserves the highest level of protection. ‘Prohibiting people from

worship and communal religious exercise is profoundly illiberal and illegitimate. Worship bans were unfair and disproportionate.’

He added, ‘Our arguments submitted to the Court demonstrate clearly that blanket bans are violations of religious freedom under international human rights law.’

Speaking after the hearing, Portaru said the way in which the Court would deal with this case would ‘set a precedent’ for how 46 European countries would deal with religious freedom ‘in times of crisis’.

In a statement, Portaru said, ‘We are committed to supporting Dr Figeľ and his defence of religious freedom.

‘The international legal framework is very clear in its

protection of this right as it benefits everyone – people of faith as well as people of no faith.

‘Fundamental freedoms apply to all, and in times of crisis they must be protected rather than weakened.’

As reported previously by Evangelical Times, other challenges against lockdown restrictions on public worship during the pandemic have been upheld.

In January this year, ET reported on the judgment from a German court which ruled that the local lockdown of churches in Lage had been illegal.

In Scotland, as early as 2021, the Court of Session ruled that the Scottish government’s ban on public worship during the pandemic was unlawful.

International News

Ján Figeľ and Adina Portaru (Credit: ADF International)

At least 51 people who converted to Christianity from Islam have been arrested in Iran, according to a report by religious freedom group Article18.

The arrests are believed to have taken place in the capital city Tehran, and in four other cities: Karaj, Rasht, Orumiyeh, and Aligoudarz during the month of July.

The exact number of arrests are not known, but at least 51 people were taken into custody, with some later released on bail, the organisation says. They say the number of people detained could be as high as 70.

The organisation believes this marks a clear shift in policy, after very few publicly reported arrests of Christians so far this year.

Mansour Borji, Article18’s advocacy director, commented, ‘The reason for this sudden surge in nationwide arrests of Christians is not clear at this stage.

‘What is obvious is that Iran has begun a fresh crackdown on civil liberties, and the traditionally vulnerable groups, like Christians, are on the front line of those targeted.’

Iran sits at number eight in the top 50 nations for persecution against Christians, according to Open Doors UK. There are believed to be about 1.2 million Christians in a population of more than 86 million people.

Iran is ruled by an increasingly strict Islamic regime, which views the existence of Iranian house churches as an attempt by Western countries to undermine Islam and their authority.

Christians who have converted from Islam face the greatest risk. When people from Muslim backgrounds become Christians, they can only meet in secret house churches.

They are at great risk of being monitored, harassed, arrested, and prosecuted for ‘crimes against national security’ – an accusation that is notoriously poorly defined and can be abused.

State surveillance is on the rise and the authorities are exerting an increasing grip on daily life and activities, an attitude reflected in the harsh responses to the protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022.

Mansour Borji (Credit: Article18)

Proposals that would have made it much easier for transgender people in Germany to change ‘legal sex’ have come to a halt.

The Federal government stopped the progress of its Self-Determination Bill over concerns that criminals could exploit the legislation to evade prosecution. Under the plans, law

enforcement agencies could find it difficult to search records using a ‘pre-transition’ name, raising fears that criminals could go into hiding by changing their gender identity.

The draft law would have removed the current requirements of two doctors’ reports and a court order in order for someone to change their name and ‘gender entry’ with the registry office.

The Australian government’s review into sexual consent laws will be ineffective unless it also tackles porn addictions among young people.

This was one of the comments made by Jess Hill (pictured), a journalist specialising in helping victims of domestic abuse, at a committee hearing.

Speaking to Australia’s legal and constitutional affairs references committee, Hill said, ‘It is hard to overstate just how damaging that is as a cultural education, particularly for young boys and men.’

She added that almost half of Australians of nine to 16 years of age are ‘regularly exposed to porn’.

The committee also heard that one in five Australian women over the age of 15 will suffer sexual violence in their lifetime, while males aged 15 to 19 represented the highest rates of offending of any age group.

Hill referenced a 24-page report, ‘Victim-survivors’ views on and expectations for the criminalisation of coercive control in Australia: Findings from a national survey’.

The study found 87.5 per cent of respondents believed coercive control should be a criminal offence.

As reported by The Christian Institute, Australian Christian Lobby highlighted how pornography promotes ‘aggression, coercion and physical violence’. The Committee is due to report this month (September).

10 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

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Putting into words what I’ve learned through my cancer is a struggle. It’s not that I can’t think of anything – far from it. The lessons I’ve learned are many, and I’ll mention some.

What’s difficult is that the totality of who I am now is informed – good and bad – by my experience: my prime years were wasted by illness; I didn’t maintain friendships which have never been renewed; I lost habits of hard work; I can’t concentrate like I used to.

On the other hand, I’ve learned a healthy awareness of my own limits: the value of rest and modest ambitions; the blessing of Christian fellowship through trial; a looser hold over this passing life.

I certainly learned more of myself and God. Sometimes, when someone sees my scars and asks what happened, I quip, ‘I prayed for maturity.’

Integrated as my cancer is with my growth in Christ, it’s difficult to know how much the cancer is or isn’t to blame: would certain character traits (or flaws) have developed naturally over time, or not?

Still, there are ways in which I can directly see the impact – for the good. It would be presumptuous to claim to know the mind of God in permitting my illness, as if I knew everything he intended by it, but he is gracious enough to reveal a little of what he was doing.

One lesson was the value of daily spiritual habits. I

maintained my daily Bible reading throughout my treatment, not because I was ever-so-zealous, and often not because I wanted to – but because it was habitual. I did it, however low I felt, because it was just what I did. God spoke to me through his Word, even on those days I didn’t much want anything to do with him.

I discovered the importance of working out a good theology of suffering before you need it: waiting until tragedy strikes before getting to grips with the sovereignty of God is leaving it too late.

Set in place a robust framework of God’s control over evil while things are still going well. Know which passages of Scripture will help before they’re needed. I was blessed by being directed to study the book of Job immediately before my diagnosis!

Learning from Job, I’ve discovered first-hand the

comfort that his friends were – before they opened their mouths! There is something beautifully Christlike in seeking out a broken-hearted friend simply to be with them, even when it means taking on a part of their suffering. Bearing one another’s burdens is how we fulfil the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

I was shown love by friends who would visit; leave cakes; send cards. When someone is suffering, there’s often little you can say to make it better – but an awful lot you can say to make it worse! It’s encouraging to know that simply being there is a blessing.

My own responses would vary from day to day – what was helpful at one time would be hurtful at another. There is no one-size-fits-all remedy other than Christ. Listen well, be slow to speak, and ask questions: ‘Do you want to talk about it today or not?’

Currently, two of my fellow church members are battling cancer. Both of them have more serious diagnoses than I had. I’m well-placed to speak – gently – into their suffering. Without my illness – knowing the man I was before – I think I’d have been far too ready to wade in, Bible verses loaded like bullets, and try to fix them. But God is the healer, not me. He’s taught me – sometimes the hard way, but always with grace and compassion.

By Ole Kristian Hunt

Pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Ulverston, in Cumbria.

Source: Shutterstock

These thought crime

prosecutions must end

Another person is being prosecuted for silently praying close to an abortion clinic. Adam Smith-Connor is being taken to court for the prayers in his head. He joins Isabel Vaughan-Spruce and Roman Catholic priest Father Sean Gough, who were taken to court earlier this year. They were both acquitted in February.

We accept that prayers are not location dependent. We don’t have to be standing near an abortion facility to pray about it. We can pray anywhere. However, the principle of being charged with a crime for silently praying is a troubling one. Especially so as the governments in Westminster and Holyrood contemplate bringing in new laws banning conversion practices, which – if activists get their way – could include banning certain types of prayers.

It is also frustrating when we see police officers standing by and doing nothing about much more disruptive demonstrations. Consider eco-warriors who slow marched down roads halting traffic, stopping people who were trying to drive to work, to their kids’ school, to doctors’ appointments. The police were often seen on the sidelines doing nothing. It is easy to see why some people think certain politically-correct protests get a free pass, even if the reality is more complicated than that.

What took you so long, Sir Keir?

We are glad to hear that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has finally admitted to what even a young child could tell you: a woman is an adult female. What took him so long? The very fact that some politicians wriggle and squirm over these definitions shows how silly these gender debates have become. More depressing still is when evangelical leaders are similarly unclear.

We suspect Sir Keir’s new-found clarity has more to do with politics than principle. He saw the catastrophic collapse of Nicola Sturgeon’s transgender policy in Scotland, which coincided with a male rapist being sent to a female prison just because he called himself a woman. As a result, Sir Keir has toned down Labour’s policy. Nevertheless, the transgender debate is far from over. We can expect more madness to come.

Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 11

God’s hymn book

SIR – In response to ‘Why hymnals?’ (May issue), there is no reference in the New Testament to new hymns being sung.

The four references to hymns (Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26, Ephesians 5:19, and Colossians 3:16) all use the Greek word that is used to translate the title of the Book of Psalms.

In the first two cases, Jesus followed the normal customs of celebrating the Passover, which included singing Psalms 113 to 118. The other two references are to psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

The titles of the individual psalms form part of the Hebrew text and are therefore inspired. 99 psalms are called psalms and/or songs. In the Greek translation used by Christ, some of the titles are changed to ‘psalms’, ‘hymns’, and/or ‘songs’. It is the Book of Psalms that is referred to.

Luther adopted the normative principle of worship (i.e. anything not expressly forbidden in Scripture is permitted in worship), and produced a hymnal, whereas Calvin, holding to the regulative principle (i.e. only what is expressly commanded in Scripture is permitted in worship) produced a psalter.

The fact that God used Luther’s hymns to spread Protestant theology does not make it right for us to sing them today.

Reformation Scotland Trust published a book in 2014 (Songs of the Spirit, edited by Revd Kenneth Stewart) which covers these questions in detail.

Metrical versions of all the psalms are available in English in the Scottish Psalter of 1650. The Free Church of Scotland has also produced ‘Sing Psalms’.

Much of both the KJV and Scottish Psalter are engrained in my memory. In prayer, it is these words that come readily to mind. Surely it is better to use the words that God has given us for that purpose to praise and pray to God.

The psalmists’ experiences mean that the various psalms can relate to us in all of our situations. They are also full of Christ, e.g. Psalms 22, 45, 69, and 110.

There is no scriptural authority for singing extra-biblical hymns as worship. Let us stick to God’s ‘hymn book’.

Revd Lloyd Roberts

Farr, Inverness

When cancer returns

SIR – Thank you to Pastor Ole Kristian Hunt for his very personal article in August’s ET (‘Theology meets life – when cancer returns’).

I can certainly relate to much of what he says. Five years ago, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer.

It was a shock – I had no apparent symptoms and it was discovered ‘by chance’ following a scan. I was fast-tracked through the NHS and the offending tumour was removed – plus my kidney!

The support and practical love shown by my family and church friends was wonderful.

After a very serious complication which brought the church to urgent corporate prayer one Sunday afternoon while I was being given my third blood transfusion, I was out, and then home!

All seemed well and after due time I returned to my full-time role. In some ways, it was all a dream (though a particularly bad one!).

Pastor Ole’s title contains those ominous words, when cancer returns. That is the reality for many people, myself included.

In April 2021, I was in hospital again for the removal of a substantial part of my right lung. The cancer had spread and was deeply embedded there.

That operation was undertaken during the covid pandemic and was a deeply traumatic experience.

However, I am astounded how much, by God’s grace, my trauma became a means of blessing, both to me and to the church.

After only eight weeks out of the pulpit, I was given strength by the Lord to return once again.

What preceded and what followed that second operation were four remarkable series of sermons. I am sure not remarkable in their content or quality, but remarkable that I was given a strength and zeal to preach them. I knew the Lord’s help like never before.

Prior to going into hospital (the last sermon being the day before the operation), I was able to preach for three Sunday mornings on Psalm 18. The church’s theme hymn during that time was ‘O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer’ by Nathan Stiff, and this

hymn was sung through the painful weeks that followed. What mutual comfort we derived from the words of that psalm!

After the operation and recovery, I preached four messages with the title, ‘A Bible Journey Through Pain’: five messages on Philippians 4:12 (‘I have

learned...’) and five more on the theme of ‘Amazing Grace’.

I look back at the notes from those times and I know without doubt that I could never have preached those messages in the way that I did if I had not experienced the instruction, comfort, and grace that I knew from God in such real and tangible ways during the most difficult and painful weeks of my life.

For any going through cancer (or its return), be encouraged. My testimony is of God’s truly amazing grace in that I am actually alive. It is the deep mystery of divine providence that there is a purpose, even in pain, for every believer.

As I write, I am now going through further tests – it’s back, cancer returns again! What the Lord has for me – and for the church – this time, is yet to be revealed, but he is still my Rock and my Redeemer. He is the God of all hope, and we have the promise of knowing that amazing peace that comes simply through believing.

David Fielding

Littleover, Derby

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By Dr Joel R. Beeke

Author, minister, and president of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, MI.

I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that is in thee also. (2 Timothy 1:3-5)

My mother grew up in a God-fearing home. Her father was a God-fearing man, though he was also a man with many doubts and fears. He had experienced peace with God for a short time as a young man, but this came to an end after he told his minister about his experience, and the minister responded that it may have just been an example of common grace.

This greatly discouraged my grandfather, and he ended up living with a level of spiritual bondage for the remainder of his life. I grew up listening to my father try to encourage my grandfather in the ways of the Lord over and over again.

My grandmother was also a God-fearing individual. However, she was bedridden for several years during my mother’s childhood, and she died when my mother was in her early teens.

My grandfather did remarry, but it was not a good marriage, and so my mother’s

primary spiritual influence continued to come from her father, with all of his doubts and fears. This affected her spiritual life to quite an extent. My mother was very godly, just like my grandfather, but like him she was also full of doubts and fears.

After I was converted at age fourteen I became very concerned about the fact that my mother was not coming to the Lord’s Table, even though she was so evidently a child of God. I spoke to her earnestly, and prayed with her about her struggles.

After this she told me that God had spoken to her from John 14:1-3, ‘Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.’

But even so, she continued to struggle with constant

doubts, and she found it difficult to believe that this passage applied to her. I earnestly prayed with her many times.

Sometimes I prayed for her in private with tears streaming down my face, praying that God would draw her to his Table and help her to stop living the life of ‘Am I, or am I not?’

She faced other obstacles as well. She had a fainting problem and was afraid that if she ever did try to make her way to the front of the auditorium for communion, she would black out. This held her back. The fear of man was a real problem for her.

On one occasion, when I was fifteen, I prayed for her in earnest on a Sunday morning. With weeping I said, ‘God, please draw her to the Table.’ And he did!

She came forward to the Table, though immediately afterwards she was filled with the same doubts and fears again. I told her that evening how I had wrestled in private prayer for her that morning,

and that I had had moments while I was praying that I believed she would come, and that this was indeed of the Lord.

The Lord really used me to encourage her that day. From that point forward she always came to the Table, and she never once fainted.

When ministers who really preached the gospel freely began to visit our Kalamazoo church, she finally found peace for her soul. The last fifty years of her life were lived with more assurance than she had ever experienced before.

She was never the kind of person who would talk freely about her spiritual life, but that was okay. We kids did not need that from her, because we got it from our dad. From our mother we learned other very important lessons that I want to share with you now.

When my siblings and I were young, my mother gave us a book called A Hive of Busy Bees. I remember reading about ‘beeing this way’ and ‘beeing that way’, and so forth. It’s fitting that I give you five ‘bees’ for which she was an example to me.

1. Be prayerful

My mother was the best prayer warrior that I have ever known. Her example is absolutely unforgettable. When my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, all five of us kids thanked them for one thing, and we all thanked my mother for her prayers. This was the most powerful influence of her life.

It was something we felt, something we saw, and something we knew. When we would walk into the kitchen for breakfast in the morning, we would glance into the living room where it was rather dark, and we would see the form of my mother on her knees. She would remain there for 15, 20, even 25 minutes.

We came to expect this from her. If she was upset about something, or if a member of the family was not walking rightly, she would disappear from the room for a little while to pray. That was powerful.

I remember a time when one of my brothers was beginning to date a girl outside

Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 13

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the church. It bothered my mother so much that I can still see her in my mind washing the dishes and weeping. She never spoke to my brother about it, but she wept. My brother couldn’t handle this. He was not yet converted, but even so he went to the girl and said, ‘My mother is so upset about this that I need to break off our relationship. I just can’t handle it.’

My mother was a very quiet woman, but it was a great comfort to us to know that every day we were wrapped in the cocoon of our mother’s prayers. It was a wonderful thing.

I remember another time when I was over at a friend’s house, and he wanted to watch a television program. As he turned on the television, it was as if I saw my mother on her knees in front of the set. I was 13 and not yet converted. In fact, I was beginning to speak against my father’s beliefs at home. But the image was so powerful that I couldn’t bear it, and I said to my friend, ‘Let’s do something else,’ and I walked out of the room.

Sometimes my mother would pray at great length – too long, in fact. I don’t know how she did it. Once I called my dad from Grand Rapids to say that I had a free evening, and I wondered if I might come down for a visit.

‘Sure,’ he said. ‘Is mom there?’ I asked. ‘Yes, but she is still praying,’ was his reply. When I arrived at their home in Kalamazoo, my dad was the only one to greet me. ‘Where’s mom?’ I asked. He said, ‘Well, she is still praying.’ It takes an hour to drive from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, and she was still praying!

Later on, after I had moved to New Jersey and was experiencing some trials in my life, my dad came out for a visit. It was probably one of the best times I ever spent with my dad.

He was very open with me. At that time he said to me, ‘You children have never known this, but your mother spends several hours every day on her knees praying for you.’ He said, ‘Your mother tells me, “If only I prayed as much for myself as I pray for the children, my spiritual life would be much better.”’

Often on my mother’s birthday I would ask her to share with me some of the wisdom she had learned in

her life. On her 85th birthday I asked, ‘Mother, if you had to live your life all over again, what would you do differently?’ Without a moment’s hesitation, she replied, ‘I would have prayed much more.’ I was overwhelmed!

In my ministry I have noticed that the more a child of God has of a particular grace, the more that child of God realises how little they have of that grace. If you were to say to my mother, ‘You really pray a lot,’ she would reply, ‘Me?’ You see, the more you have of any grace – be it love, humility, or whatever – the more you notice how little you really have of it.

This works in reverse as well. Sometimes we don’t realise the depth of spiritual life. Some people pray for five minutes a day, and they think they have a good prayer life. They don’t even realise what they are missing.

I love this quotation from Matthew Henry: ‘It is far better to leave a treasury of prayers at the throne of grace as an inheritance for your children than a treasury of gold and silver.’ My parents did not have much money, but they left us a treasury of prayers at the throne of grace.

My parents ended up having many children and grandchildren. All of them were cocooned in my mother’s prayers. She loved every one of them. Every child received $10 and a card for their birthday every year. Every child’s spouse also received $10 and a card. Every grandchild received $5. My mother was not rich, but she spent a small fortune on these gifts each year. She kept it up until she was about 85 years old.

She would write the same brief note on the bottom of each card. She was a simple person. But we all knew that her gift came with love and prayer, and it was sweet. After sending a card she would always call and ask, ‘Did you get my card?’ Oh, the beauty, the simple faith!

When she was old, people would say to her, ‘You have such a large family!’ She would reply, ‘And to think I was an only child!’ She never got over that. God gave her such covenant mercies to pray for in so many children and grandchildren!

So my first ‘be’ in the hive of busy bees is, be prayerful. Don’t try to match my mother’s prayer habits, but be prayerful. You can’t pray enough. You

can’t put enough priority on prayer for your loved ones.

2. Be a Bible reader

My mother loved to read the Bible. This became even more apparent in her waning years. In her final years this was all that she would do. It was her whole life.

I stood very much rebuked in the weeks before she died. I asked my wife one day, ‘Why does the Lord keep her alive?’ Just a day or two later, though, we heard one of her grandchildren remark, ‘It has been such a lesson to care for Grandma, because all she does is eat and read her Bible.’

This really impacted me. My mother was still being a witness to her grandchildren, even in the final days of her life. We have no idea how much she understood in those last few years, but I think it was probably more than we realised.

A month or two before her death, I asked her if she understood what she was reading. She said, ‘Oh yes, dear.’ Then I asked, ‘Do you still get a lot out of it for your own soul?’ ‘Oh yes, dear.’

I then read Revelation 21 to her because I wanted to focus her mind on heaven. I asked

her, ‘Do you long for heaven, mother?’ She said, ‘Oh dear, sometimes I have so much pain I can’t think about it.’

Her answer was a bit of a letdown, but it is reality. You must seek the Lord while you are young. When you get old you might have too much pain to seek the Lord. Now is the time, while you are strong and healthy.

We had an old minister who used to say, ‘Don’t give your bones to the Lord when you’re old. Give your flesh to the Lord when you are young.’

As I read Revelation 21 to my mother, I came to these words: ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega.’ I asked her, ‘Mother, do you understand what this means?’ Then I felt a bit foolish, because I thought, ‘Of course she does not understand what this means – not any longer.’

But she looked straight at me and said, ‘Does it mean that Christ is the first and last in everything in our lives?’ I said, ‘Yes! That’s it! That is the whole Christian life, Mother. I am the Alpha and Omega.’ It was amazing.

When we were all much younger, my mother would read Bible stories to us kids on Sunday afternoons while my

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Source: Dreamstime

dad was attending the Dutch church service. She would also read stories about how God had worked in people’s lives and would try to relate that to the Bible in her own simple way.

As we grew up, it became natural for us to spend Sundays in the Word. We were allowed a short nap, but not a long one – maybe 20 or 30 minutes. She would read to us before we fell asleep.

For the rest of the afternoon, we were required to read good books. After I turned 14 and became spiritually concerned, I eagerly looked forward to that time on Sunday afternoons from about 3:30 to 5:00. It became heaven on earth to me. My mother instilled that love in me.

3. Be kind

My mother was one of the kindest individuals I have ever known. The law of kindness was in her heart, on her tongue, and in all her facial expressions.

My parents used to have what are called hazeelschaaps – gatherings of God’s people for fellowship. About 25 of them would come and fill our small living room.

I can still see my mom on the other side of the room. Whenever her eyes met mine, she would smile. My dad wouldn’t pay the least bit of attention to me at these gatherings, but my mom made me feel as if I was the most important person in the room.

There are few things that would upset my mother. In fact, she was too naive for my own good. I could get away with almost anything around her. I couldn’t get away with a thing around my dad.

There was one thing that would really irritate my mother, though, and that was criticism directed at another human being. Criticism made her very upset. If the person being criticised was a minister, this would make her exponentially more upset.

I even tried to criticise a minister’s dog once, because I thought the dog was miserable, but because it was the minister’s dog, I was told that I couldn’t disparage it.

I thought, ‘Come on, Mother, give me a little break here!’ But the kindness just radiated from her. She was so concerned about others being wrongly judged. Her attitude deeply affected us.

Even today, if I am sitting in a consistory meeting and something negative comes up about someone, I am always thinking to myself, ‘Maybe the person has a good reason for their behaviour; maybe there is something there that the rest of us don’t know about.’

I am always thinking positively. I have been burned many times in my life because I try to think well of everyone in every situation. I probably picked up that naivety from my mother. But still, I would rather err on that side than on the other side – the side of being overly critical of another.

Her kindness manifested itself in other ways as well. For example, I don’t ever remember my mother becoming frustrated with us. I know that sounds unbelievable, but I do not remember it.

On my mother’s 80th birthday, my wife asked her, ‘Do you have any advice about how to handle children when you are frustrated with them?’

My mom thought about the question for a moment, smiled, and then replied, ‘I don’t know, dear. I don’t remember ever being frustrated with my children!’

My mother’s calm was not due to any goodness in us kids; it was all owing to God’s grace in sanctifying her character. The natural gentleness in her was intensified by her spiritual life, and it made her remarkably kind.

4. Be content

My mother was a very contented person. Her tasks were many, but she never complained – not about my dad, or the church, or anything else.

Once when I was 12 years old, my friend and I talked about going over to his house for the day. My friend said, ‘It depends on whether or not my mother is in a good mood.’ I replied, ‘Good mood?’ I did not even know what the word ‘mood’ meant!

When I was ten years old, I asked my mother, ‘If you could be any age you wanted to be, what age would you choose?’ She said to me, ‘I would want to be 42.’ ‘What a coincidence,’ I replied, ‘that is exactly your present age!’ She said to me, ‘I have learned that whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content.’

That really stuck with me. When you are 19, you should

want to be 19. When you are 99, you should want to be 99. This is God’s will for you. Be content.

My mother’s contentment was also evident in her thankfulness. I don’t think I have ever met a person who was so thankful. She expressed gratitude for every little thing.

If I put bread in the toaster for her she would say, ‘Thank you, dear.’ She must have said ‘thank you’ more than ten times a day. She radiated gratitude.

5. Be pure

Everything in my mother’s life seemed so simple, so pure. She didn’t complicate her life with all kinds of ‘stuff’.

There was so much that she did not know, or care to know. She just wanted to know God. She wanted to serve her husband, love her children, and lead a simple, God-fearing life.

These are the five ‘bees’ that I have learned from my mother. I wish I could match her devotion to each one, but I know I fall short. I still need to learn from her today. We can all learn from her today.

Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 15

Features

Georg William Frederick Hegel (Source: Dreamstime)

Georg William Frederick Hegel (1770–1831) was a German philosopher whose dialectical method has become the dominant thought pattern for most people in the world today – including so-called evangelical pastors and theologians in the United States.

His methodology is non-evangelical to the core and it is a dangerous inconsistency for any Christian to hold to it. It amounts to the denial of absolute truth. Most Christians and most pastors/theologians would deny Hegel’s dialectical method. Sadly, they still think according to Hegelian dialecticism nonetheless.

So, what is Hegel’s dialectical method? The old methodology was to think in terms of truth and error; right and wrong; pros and cons. Hegel changed that way of thinking by offering a third way – the synthesis of the thesis and antithesis. Hegel’s synthesis becomes a higher truth and a new truth which replaces the old stalemate of thesis and antithesis.

For many years, the Church pushed back against the Hegelian dialectical method, but it has been a thorn in the side of Christianity for most of the past two centuries. The result is a new kind of Christianity which really is not Christianity at all. It is not Scriptural Christianity. Rather, it is synthetic Christianity based on the false and synthetic thinking of Hegelianism.

So, what exactly is Hegel’s dialectical method? In simple terms, Hegel’s dialecticism says that instead of competing positions called thesis and

antithesis, there needs to be a combination of both which forms a synthesis. That synthesis is the new truth and is a higher truth than either of the other two ever were.

If we start with the thesis that the Scripture is the infallible, inerrant Word of God, the antithesis would be that Scripture is none of those things. Hegel’s method was to try to bring those two competing positions together. Sadly, he has been wildly successful and the Church has suffered the devastating consequences.

One of the reasons that it is so hard to debate the great issues of our day, whether in the Church or in the world, is because people invariably fall back into a Hegelian dialectical mode of thinking.

I witnessed such Hegelian thinking one time – among many such times – at a meeting of the Standing Judicial Commission of the Presbyterian Church in America. The ruling elder commissioner who gave the devotion – later he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly – was speaking about Christ’s parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. He set forth

the idea that all of us are both Pharisees and Publicans. Then, he used some new terms – Pharicans and Publicees – to describe us.

Essentially, he said that there was no difference between them. Of course, he might want to read the Scripture again in Luke 18:9-14, because Jesus clearly taught that there was a huge difference between them. One man, the Publican, went to his home justified. The other, the Pharisee, was not justified. Jesus operated in the thesis/antithesis way of thinking.

The whole Scripture does. There are sheep and there are goats. There are lost and saved. There is truth and error. There is heaven and hell. There are some who are justified and many who are not. There is no synthesis in the Scripture between truth and error, right and wrong, heaven and hell, etc.

When the PCA elected an ad-interim committee in 2019 to report back to the General Assembly in 2020 about human sexuality and LGBTQ, etc., I wrote almost immediately that the committee would not approach the matter from a thesis/antithesis viewpoint, but would combine both sides into

By Dewey Roberts

Pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, Destin, Florida.

the same report. That is exactly what the committee did when the report came out in 2020.

Sadly, even the most evangelical ministers in the PCA could not see what had happened. The right approach would have been to write a report that had both affirmations and denials. That is not what happened. The report had affirmations and an equal number of ‘nevertheless’ statements to counter each affirmation. The evangelical Church has never before approached a matter of truth by stating its affirmations and then stating several ‘nevertheless’ statements.

Now, I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I had already witnessed the Hegelian methodology being used in many instances. What was dismaying to me was that people who should know better could not see that the report was based on Hegel’s dialectical method. One very well-known minister told me that the report was so strong on the affirmations that the ‘nevertheless’ statements would prove to be meaningless. Brethren, beware of naivety.

The great problem of the Church today is that the world

and the world’s wisdom has been invited in and given a seat at the table. That is why there are many voices in the Church that say, ‘I believe in the gospel, but I am all for social justice. Social justice is the gospel.’ ‘I believe in Christ, but I believe that Critical Race Theory – despite its Marxism – is Christian.’ ‘I do not support homosexuality, but I believe that some people are Christians who struggle with homosexuality.’

In other words, instead of holding to the thesis/antithesis paradigm, the Church has conformed to the world and the moral drift of the world, and has combined the two positions into a new one. The Church is now propagating synthetic Christianity. No wonder there is disaster everywhere.

There is only one way out of this mess. There must be a return to the Scripture as the only objective truth available to the Church. Neither sociology nor psychology nor anthropology nor any other -ology can give us the whole truth. True theology based on the infallible and inerrant Word of God is our only hope.

Believers in America need to remember what it is that led our founding fathers to come to this country. The persecution of Christian pastors and Christians in Great Britain as a result of Black Bartholomew’s Day in 1662 was the driving force. Our pilgrim fathers wanted the opportunity to worship according to the dictates of their consciences enlightened by the Scripture.

Now in these United States Christians are increasingly considered to be the enemy of the nation. That is the way things were in the old Soviet Union when meetings of Christians were considered to be against state security and Christians were enemies of the nation.

How did we get here? Very simple. We adopted the Hegelian dialectical method for thinking. There was not a national referendum. Instead, we did it individually. We did it as denominations and seminaries and congregations, as ministers and Christians. We replaced authentic Christianity with synthetic Christianity. How has that worked out?

16 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

DUDLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

(Priory Road)

Lord’s Day: 10.30am and 6.30pm

Prayer/Bible study: Thursday 7.45pm

Pastor: Conrad Pomeroy

Tel: 0758 3161766

E-mail: enquiries@dudleybaptist.org.uk

Priory Road, Dudley DY1 4AD

www.dudleybaptist.org.uk

www.sermonsfortoday.org

•

•

Coming to Southampton?

You are welcome to join us in Sholing at:

Spring Road Evangelical Church

Reformed Evangelistic

Non-ecumenical Non-charismatic

• Expository Ministry

Sunday services: 11.00am and 6.30pm

Pastor: Mark Stocker (023) 80432850

www.springroad.org.uk

•

•

ZION EVANGELICAL

BAPTIST CHURCH

Blossomgate, Ripon,

N. Yorks HG4 2AJ

Lord’s Day: 10.30am & 6.30pm

Prayer/Bible study:

Wednesday 7.30pm.

E-mail:jonathanandjo@hotmail.co.uk

www.zionripon.org.uk

(sermons on website)

Coming to Sussex?

Living in Brighton to Worthing area?

Southern Cross

Evangelical Church

103 Trafalgar Road, Portslade, Brighton, East Sussex BN41 1GU

Sundays: 10.30am & 6.30pm Wednes-days: Fellowship at 10.30am

Pastor: John Eaton

Website:

www.southerncross.org.uk (sermons)

Mobile: 07758 167488

E-mail: johneaton.scec@gmail.com

We would particularly like to encourage Christian families, students, young people and those with leadership skills to help

us build a strong local church with a

reformed ministry

THE OLD TEMPERANCE BOOKSHOP

Reeth, Richmond, DL11 6TE

Tel: (01748) 884185

Christian books, cards & crafts

Beside the village

green in Reeth, the

‘capital of Swaledale’, we are 50 yards up from Reeth Evangelical

Congregational Church

Closed from Tues 12th to Weds 20th September

Opening times:

1.30 – 4.00pm Monday, Thursday, Saturday

10.30am – 4.00pm Friday (Market Day)

Heath Evangelical Church

Whitchurch Road Cardiff CF14 3LZ

T: 029 2061 7738

E: office@heath-church.org

W: www.heath-church.org

Pastor: Revd Wyn Hughes

Asst. Pastor: Revd Andy Christofides

Sunday Services: 10.45am & 6.00pm

Bible Study/Prayer Meeting:

Wed 7.30pm

one2two

Bookshop & Coffee Shop

Adjoining the church. Bookshop stocks

Reformed & Evangelical books, including

second hand. Also cards, gifts, DVDs & CDs.

Open weekdays 10.00am to 5.00pm.

Coffee Shop serves quality drinks, meals

and homemade cakes.

Open weekdays from 9.00am to 3.30pm.

Tel: 029 2062 1798

E-mail: sales@heathchristianbookshop.org

www.heathchristianbookshop.com for on-line sales

AN ASSEMBLY OF CHRISTIANS

meeting in the City of Westminster

Summer preaching 2023 - Fridays at 6.30pm

The Faith of God’s Elect

1st September Timothy Martin

8th September Bob Morgan

15th September John Armstrong

22nd September James Taylor

29th September Sovereign Grace Union Annual London Meeting – Dafydd Morris

Meeting at Pimlico Academy, 36 Lupus Street,

Pimlico, London, SW1V 3AT

Also meeting each Lord’s Day at 5.00pm

Authorised Version Metrical Psalms

PLEASE NOTE

All advertisements must reach us by the 1st of the month

preceding the issue for which they are submitted.

Adverts should be sent to:

Evangelical Times, 3 Trinity Court, Faverdale North, Darlington, DL3 0PH

Coming to South West London? Visit us at amyand.org.uk

Amyand Park Road, Twickenham, TW1 3HY - (Near St Margaret’s Train Station)

Sunday Services 11am & 6.30pm

Prayer & Bible Study Wednesday 7.30pm

Pastor: Gerard Hemmings

AMYAND PARK CHAPEL

Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 17

By Alan Thomas

Professor and Consultant in Psychiatry. Elder at Newcastle Reformed Evangelical Church.

A shrink thinks...

Soon after I was brought to know the Lord Jesus at medical school, I was surprised to read books telling me that God didn’t have emotions. And major Reformed confessions seemed to say the same thing. Both the 1689 and Westminster Confessions, for example, state: God is without passion (2.1). Theologians state: he is impassible. Yet when I read the Bible, it seemed clear God was telling us he does have a complex range of emotions. Perhaps there were subtleties in the semantics or grammar I was missing? No. I found there were not.

In Genesis 6:6 we read of God being grieved to his heart. The commentators point out the word here is used for a powerful, raging, painful emotion. It is used of the feelings felt by Dinah’s brothers in Genesis 34 after she had been raped; of David’s deep wretchedness after Absalom’s death (2 Samuel 18); of the emotional pain experienced by a wife abandoned by her husband (Isaiah 54:6). And God is said to experience such feelings elsewhere, in Psalm 78:40 and Isaiah 63:10.

Relatedly there are many passages teaching us about God’s wrath, his righteous anger at sin, which again show him to be able to experience such negative feelings. There is no escaping the fact God tells us he himself experiences the deepest, strongest, negative emotions humans can know.

But God also teaches us he experiences positive emotions too. He rejoices like a bridegroom over his bride (Isaiah 62:5), he delights in people when we fear him (Psalm 147:11), and is joyful

when sinners repent (Luke 15:7). He tells us that God is love.

Love is not primarily a feeling, but to say someone loves without any associated emotions would be to make nonsense of the word. As our pastor said, if a man told his wife he loved her but she needed to be clear that this didn’t include any feelings for her at all, she would not be impressed!

Love includes the warm feeling of happy, quiet, stable devotion to the object of one’s love or it isn’t love at all. Such we see in the famous words of the Lord to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7: ‘The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.”’

In these and many other texts God is said to be merciful, to be compassionate, to show love, to be angry and so on. And these are emotion-laden words aren’t they? When we hear that someone showed mercy, we don’t picture some flat, unfeeling transaction, do we? When we hear that someone was compassionate to another person, we don’t think of some kind of emotionless interaction in which help was given without any feelings, do we?

Mercy and compassion, like love, are words which include the ideas of the associated

feelings. To evacuate such words of emotion is to wreak havoc on how we read and understand the Bible. We cannot simply assign novel meanings to words in the Bible because we are uncomfortable with their plain, regular meaning.

Our personal God

So again and again the God of the Bible is shown to be a God who has a range of positive and negative emotions. But then, this is hardly surprising, is it? As a psychiatrist, I find the claim that God doesn’t have emotions especially unconvincing because it is central to the Bible’s revelation about God that he is personal. He is three persons eternally relating one to another. To be a person is to be a being who experiences emotions.

A weakness with my argument above about the language of emotion used for God in the Bible is that it may give the impression that emotions are things that are added and taken away again, like sticking a hat on a Lego figure and then removing it again. The ground state is supposedly one of no feelings, like the hatless figure. So God is normally free of feelings, but then becomes happy, and then he goes back to an emotionless state again.

But emotions are not like that. We have feelings all the time, they are integral to who we are as humans. They are constantly changing as we think, learn, act, and interact in the

world, and especially as we engage with other people. To be a person is to be in relationships, and such relationships always generate feelings. So since God is personal and eternally in relationships within the Godhead then feelings must be integral to who he is. This inference is confirmed by the many statements about his emotions.

Our impassible God

What then are we to make of the confessional statements and the claims that God is impassible? Such statements were made to guard us against thinking of God’s emotions as being exactly the same as ours. For he is the eternal and unchangeable God (Psalm 102:25-27; Malachi 3:6), and yet emotions (at least as we experience them) involve change.

We can say briefly that the confessional and similar statements should be understood as meaning that God is not unstable and erratic. He is not passionate in the sense of losing control and acting unpredictably like pagan gods did.

In his Systematic Theology Louis Berkhof wrote: ‘God does not change in his being, perfections, purposes and promises.’ So to say God is unchangeable does not mean there is no sense in which (from our human perspective, at least) God doesn’t change.

To try and make further progress, we need to reflect further on the fact God is personal as well as unchangeable. Too often God’s unchangeability seems to be thought of as God being rock-like. He is a rock, and therefore he is fixed and inflexible and so can’t have emotions, because these involve change.

But God is personal, and this should be central to how we try to understand how God can be both unchangeable and experience emotions. Next time we will think through more about the unchangeable emotions of our personal God.

Editor’s comment – In next month’s edition, God willing, we will publish part two of Alan Thomas’s article on God’s emotions. We will also publish an article by Paul Smith arguing for the impassibility of God.

Source: Pixabay

18 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

Features

By Dr John Wyatt Emeritus Professor of Neonatal Paediatrics at UCL and author of multiple books on end-of-life and ethical issues.

The following is an edited extract from The Final Lap by John Wyatt, by kind permission of 10 Publishing.

As we make the transition from paid employment to retirement, it seems to me that the question ‘What are old people for?’ takes on new relevance. Let’s explore a number of ways in which older people are able to make a special contribution to those around them.

Availability

When we are in the midst of our working lives, making space and time for people can seem almost impossible. I remember occasions when my wife and I had to plan months ahead just to find time to meet up with friends or invite someone for a meal.

But now that I am no longer in full-time employment, it has become much easier to make myself available to others at short notice. And in our busy, pressurised, and demanding world, when so many working people are barely hanging on by their fingertips, having older people around who are prepared to make themselves available becomes a vital ministry.

It’s a gift that we can offer to others. We don’t have to have specialised skills in counselling or pastoral care. We just need to be able to be there, to offer a listening ear and an encouraging word.

Life wisdom

It’s often been said that ‘We live life forwards but we understand it backwards’. And I for one am

grateful for the (albeit limited) wisdom and insights that I have gained over the last 70 years of my life.

We live in a world which idolises youth and in which so many older people are trying to pretend that they are 25 again. But to be honest, I really don’t want to be 25 again!

Of course, it would be good to have a body that didn’t ache and get quite so tired, but I’m extremely grateful for what I have learnt over the past 50 years. As older people we have the privilege of being able to offer some of the life wisdom we have gleaned along the way.

When we’re young, it’s easy to think we’ve got life sorted out. It’s all a bit black and white. As long as you do this, follow this teaching, keep this diet, follow these rules, then everything is going to work out fine. Well, by the time you get to your 60s and beyond, most of us have come to the realisation that life is just not that simple.

Sometimes people try genuinely to do their best and terrible things result. Bad things seem to happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people. Those you trusted and thought were dependable turn out not to be as good as you thought, and so on, and so on.

As older people we can accept that life is not always clear cut. It’s not that we don’t believe there are such realities as good and evil, right and wrong. But we also know that real life can be messy and unpredictable.

So we are called to listen to others in a gentle, non-judgmental way. And I think it can be particularly helpful to share from our own experiences the ways that God has blessed us in spite of our failures and weaknesses.

Intergenerational friendships

As a younger man I had the immense privilege of developing close friendships with a number of older people who chose to reach out to me, inviting me for meals, making themselves available, offering love, support, wisdom, and prayers.

Looking back I can see that these close friendships were deeply influential and transformative for the direction of my life and service, inspiring and moulding me into the person that I have become.

But deep and intimate intergenerational friendships seem to be becoming increasingly unusual in our society. It seems as though

many older people have become very reluctant to reach out in friendship to younger people in their churches or communities.

Some have lost their confidence when it comes to supporting younger members of their community. ‘I’m not at all sure I’ve got anything to offer. I don’t get half the things they talk about. I don’t understand social media, dating apps, computer games. I don’t understand the kind of lives they live.’ It’s easy to conclude that we have nothing to offer.

But that isn’t true. Everyone reading these words has something to offer to a younger person, even if it’s just a listening ear, showing that you care, telling them that you would like to understand their lives and pray for the issues they face.

Young people need friends with life wisdom, people who are available, who will listen to them and love them and pray for them. So can I gently suggest perhaps you could take the initiative? Don’t wait to be asked. All it takes is to offer a cup of coffee or a walk together.

Since my retirement, God has given me a number of medical students, junior doctors, and young scientists as friends. I am intentionally trying to invest in their lives by meeting up with them from time to time.

It’s very much a two-way process. I am learning as much from spending time with them as they are from me. And as our friendships deepen I have found that it is often most helpful to share a little from my own experiences of failure and struggle. By making myself more vulnerable and sharing some of my own challenges, I’m encouraging them to be more honest and open with me.

Obviously, this takes wisdom and discernment to know how much to share and how to do it. Our first responsibility is to be listening and caring for the other person, not to focus on ourselves. But when it seems appropriate there is a place for opening up about our own experiences of the deep waters of suffering, failure or bereavement, as well as our faith and hope in Christ.

Sharing our faith

Many of us find that, now we are no longer restrained by

Source: Shutterstock

Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 19

A walk with Mr O

By Stuart Olyott

Retired but active, Stuart Olyott preaches widely, but especially at Caergwrle Evangelical Church.

Source: Shutterstock

professional and employment concerns, it is easier to be more open with others about our faith.

Despite the rising life expectancy, older people are frequently confronted with their mortality, and for some this has led to a greater openness to talking about deeper issues than in younger years – the meaning of life, the reality of guilt, the possibility of forgiveness, and what happens beyond the grave.

In Finishing Well: A God’s-eye view of ageing, Ian Knox points out that despite attending church, many retired people do not have a deep personal faith in Christ. This presents us with an opportunity! Knox says, ‘I am finding, time and again, that many of these faithful churchgoers do want to make a real move in their lives, with a longing to come into a deep relationship with God through a personal trust in Jesus.’

Prayerfulness

When I was working as a front-line doctor and research scientist, I often put in 80–90 hours a week. When it came to prayer, sometimes the best I could manage was to use the ten-minute walk from our house to the underground station. I used that brief time to pray and prepare for the coming shift in the hospital.

But once retired, most of us now have more time and opportunity to learn more about praying for others. In our family, we have some wonderful examples of praying grandparents. My father was a praying grandparent. He used to use the selection of Bible passages called Daily Light, which has readings for every day of the year.

My father wrote into his well-used volume all the important anniversaries and events that had occurred on each particular day. He would use those notes to pray for his extended family and friends around the world.

My wife’s mother has also been another wonderful role model of a praying grandparent. In her 80s she taught herself how to use email so that she could keep in touch with her 13 grandchildren. She asked them to all send her an email once a week giving her the details of what they were doing on each day of the coming week – so that she could pray for them individually every day.

It became very important to each grandchild to know that Granny was praying for them. They wanted to make sure that Granny knew about the coming exam, the new friends they were making, and the challenges they were facing, so that she would pray.

Maybe you don’t have biological grandchildren, but there are spiritual children that you can contact to tell them that you are praying for them. As we enter into the later stages of life, even if we suffer from increasing physical limitations, prayerfulness for the younger generations is a calling that each one of us can fulfil.

No runner wants to hit the wall and spend the last six miles of the marathon dragging themselves along. But unlike running, hitting retirement doesn’t have to mean a long-lasting slog for the remainder of the race. We can recover from the potentially unsettling change and go on to flourish, running our final miles with purpose and joy.

Source: Dreamstime.com

Mr O, how can I improve my prayer life? And yes, before you answer, I know how you’re going to start. You’re going to tell me that I’m asking the wrong person! But I’ve already asked the Lord this question, and ever since then I’ve had a strong desire to talk to you about it.

Fair enough. So tell me this, what do you believe about prayer? What is it?

It’s simple, isn’t it? Ever since I was a child I’ve been taught that ‘prayer is talking to God’.

Oh dear. That definition isn’t really very good. It’s true that prayer usually involves talking to God, but that’s not what prayer is.

Really? What is it then?

Prayer is something inward. It is all about our longings and yearnings. Prayer can exist without words, but it can’t exist without inward aches. What we pine for most is God himself, and with all our other yearnings churning away inside us we throw ourselves upon him. Some of our desires can be put into words, and these we pour out in spoken prayer. But there are other Spirit-given longings that are so deep that they can’t be put into words. All we can do with those is groan, knowing that our Heavenly Father understands.

But Mr O, isn’t it a fact that many of our inward desires are ungodly and sinful?

Sadly, yes. But the Word of God, and especially the six petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, tell us which yearnings and longings are pleasing to God. Those are the ones that we

bring to him. And because what we long for corresponds with what he longs for, we can be certain that those requests will be granted. So we pray with confidence for the exaltation of God’s name, the coming of his kingdom, the doing of his will, the supply of our daily needs, the forgiveness of our sins, and his support and deliverance when faced with temptation and the devil. When our requests are granted, of course, we have an overwhelming desire to thank him. Thanksgiving is an important part of biblical prayer. But our greatest craving is to know the Lord, and to know him better, and then to know him better than that. He reads our hearts, responds to our longings, and reveals himself. By faith we see him and we are overcome. Vanquished and awed, we are lost in wonder, love, and praise. The Bible calls this worship.

Yes, Mr O, but you still haven’t said what we are to do with all those ungodly desires that plague our thoughts?

These too we bring to the Lord. We don’t ignore them. We don’t excuse them. All that is sinful we confess as sinful, because it is sins that the Saviour promises to forgive. Our confession is not general, but detailed. We hide nothing. We come to the Lord with every personal sin that we know about, even if it means coming to him again and again with the same thing. Confession of our sins is a major part of biblical prayer. That is why all prayer must be in the name of Christ. Even our holiest yearnings are not as holy as they should be. Everything about us is stained by sin. If Christ had not died in our place, and if his righteousness had not been imputed to us, our very best prayers would be sinful enough to send us to hell. Our eternal salvation does not depend on our prayers, but solely on the person and work of the eternal Son of God. So we come with our yearnings to the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit.

Thank you, Mr O. We’ve covered a lot of ground and I don’t know how I am going to remember it all!

Can’t you see what I’ve been doing as we’ve talked together? I’ve simply been explaining the Bible’s teaching about prayer as summarised in the Westminster Shorter Catechism:

Q.98: What is prayer?

A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies.

20 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

Book Reviews

Kevin DeYoung

Crossway

128 pages; £13.99

I wonder if we sometimes neglect the Lord’s Prayer. Perhaps it’s become overly familiar. Perhaps we fear feeding our inner Pharisee through frequent mindless repetition of set prayers: we rightly want our praying to be heartfelt and genuine.

But it’s instructive that, as DeYoung points out, it’s in the context of Jesus telling his disciples not to pray like hypocrites that he gives them this prayer! Not only that, if we want to grow in praying, here we have

the master of prayer, the expert, teaching us how to pray. How could we afford to neglect it?

DeYoung aims to help us regain our sense of amazement that we have this prayer at all, and to make the most of it. It’s a helpful but concise walk through the Lord’s Prayer, packing in a lot of content. DeYoung takes the reader through each phrase, setting them within the overall structure of the prayer. I feel I know the prayer much better having read this book, especially because some of the phrases

are ones that can easily roll off the tongue, but that we’d find hard to define precisely. What, for example, are we actually asking when we pray ‘your kingdom come’?

DeYoung’s stated aim is to encourage believers to pray, rather than feeling like failures when they do anything besides pray. I’m confident he will have achieved that aim in many lives. This is a good book, written in a simple but engaging way, and easy to read. Buy it, read it, and I’m sure you’ll benefit from it.

David Cox

Nelson, South Wales

Paul Watts

Grace Publications

220 pages; £10

This book is a deeply personal one. The author outlines the changes which occurred in the church where he serves over a long period of time.

The introduction explains how the gospel transcends cultures, showing how it is for all types of people and therefore we should be adaptable in the way we present it. Two big sections follow: a case study and then comments on navigating gospel-driven change.

The case study is the author’s story of being called to a Coventry church and various changes implemented over the years ranging from Bible versions to the church building. There is also a chapter dedicated to different people and situations that Watts encountered.

One helpful detail was on timings: not everything got changed at once. This long-term approach can be helpful in seeking the Lord’s will and explaining the changes rather than springing them on the saints at a meeting.

In the second main section (navigating gospel change), biblical principles on managing change are identified and some practicalities considered. This includes an instructive warning to balance head and heart, sounding the warning of being too dry and overly scholastic.

Watts describes and reflects on his personal experience. Readers might be

fascinated to hear detailed principles for diagnosing the direction of change needed, judging when to stop, and how to implement gospel-driven change in a conservative direction. But these are for another type of book.

Overall this book provides a stimulus of thought to those contemplating change in the local church, especially if issues are live, while being careful not to fall into the pit of pragmatism.

Ben Hutton

Thornhill, Dewsbury

Jean Wemyss-Gorman

Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd

432 pages; £13.50

The format of this lovely book is initially the most striking aspect. This carefully compiled journal of letters home from John and Ruth Carpenter (neé Rossiter; they were married while in China), missionaries with the China Inland Mission (now OMF), provides a first-hand insight into missionary life in China in the 1930s.

The letters convey the Carpenters’ encouragements and challenges, hardships and joys, and their determination to reach the lost with the gospel. This wonderfully personal account provides a snapshot of both the political and spiritual landscape of the interior province to which the Lord had called this young couple.

Behind some gentle wit and humour, the realities of life in a nation rocked by internal strife and external invasions become apparent. Yet, in among the turmoil of military unrest and economic hardship, they write of hundreds gathering to listen to open-air preaching, churches growing up and being led by Chinese pastors, and the lives of individual believers being transformed by the gospel.

Both John and Ruth write of preaching to many who would gather in market places. It seems that Ruth’s preaching experiences were generally in the context of mission stations staffed only by women, but no specific comment

is passed on the nature of those occasions. While some may find the format a little unusual, this by no means detracts from the readability of the book. The story which emerges through the day-to-day account of John and Ruth’s lives is nothing short of heart-warming and thrilling.

Those who have an interest in the history of the work of the gospel in East Asia would find this book most appealing, thoroughly enjoyable, and easily recommendable.

Fiona Earnest

Bangor, Gwynedd

Evangelical Times, Sepember 2023 | 21

Book Reviews

C. H. Spurgeon

Christian Focus Publications

260 pages; £9.99

Are you frustrated with prayer? Does it seem like a slot machine model railway? You pay your dues but have no control. The mainline church prayer meeting is going nowhere in monotonous repetition and the private branch line has derailed and stopped. This book could help save you and your church. It focuses on the prayer meeting as God’s workforce meeting with him about his business, salvation.

The book is not written as a manual for prayer meetings or as a testimony to their effectiveness. It is not written as a book at all. It is a collection of addresses given by Spurgeon, mostly at the Monday evening Metropolitan Tabernacle prayer meetings. They are arranged in four parts.

Part 1 is about prayer and the conduct of prayer meetings. The second address is as near as you get to a prayer meeting user manual. It troubleshoots bad prayer practice and gives good advice for improving such meetings.

Part 2 contains extempore expositions of Scripture. Frequently there are pleas to pray for preachers and other front-line workers. ‘It is hard to fight like Joshua when there is no Moses on the hilltop.’

Part 3 has eleven addresses triggered by events and observations. One alarming, as the prayer meeting was interrupted by someone having a fit. Others amusing, like his observation of

French workers repairing potholes. All are instructive.

Part 4 has eight miscellaneous addresses responding to objections and questions and pastoral needs. My favourite would be ‘A full Christ for empty sinners and saints’.

This book seriously challenges the reality of our evangelistic concern, creeping worldliness, and decline in piety. It also helps us re-focus and pray. Persevere with reading it and you will dig gems to enrich you.

Tim Burden

Eastbourne

Stephen J. Nichols

David J. Ayers

Jason Thacker

Christian Focus

93/ 108/ 97 pages; £3.99

The Track series aims to present biblical truth concerning ‘culture, doctrine, and the Christian life’ in an accessible manner. These titles deal with issues which are essential for modern Christian life, especially for students, who often find themselves confronted by worldly living and anti-Christian sentiment.

‘Social Media’ describes the influence that social media platforms such as TikTok have on young people. The issues of online privacy and the distortion of truth are addressed, but the main point is that many people ‘are being discipled by [social media] every day’. The reader is forced to confront their heart’s attitudes towards technology, other people, and ultimately the God they serve. Beyond students, this book would be useful for any Christian who desires to understand the influence that social media has on younger generations.

‘Apologetics’ introduces key topics which provide a framework for approaching apologetics: the need for apologetics; the use of general revelation; the reliability of the Bible; and the uniqueness of Christ and his centrality in the gospel message. This is brought together to present a cohesive gospel message, before concluding by pointing the reader to the God who is sovereign over our evangelistic efforts.

‘Dating, Marriage & Sex’ effectively dissects the prevailing cultural views of romantic relationships and weighs them against Scripture, exhorting students to pursue biblical purity.

These books are eminently readable, written from a Reformed perspective, and simple without being simplistic, although at times I found myself wishing for a little more detail. They are best read slowly, looking up the Scripture references and actively considering how to respond to the issues discussed.

Christian students who read, heed, and pray through these books will be greatly benefitted.

Ieuan Richards

Cornwall

Dr Chris Richards and Dr Liz Jones

Evangelical Press

136 pages; £7.99

Thinking Christians would agree, I’m sure, that it’s important we teach young people to develop a biblical understanding of key issues like cohabitation, pornography, homosexuality, gender identity, the roles of men and women, abortion, purity, marriage, and singleness, and yet it isn’t always easy!

This book is specifically written for young people, with chapters about each of these issues in turn. I’m currently reading it with my daughter and appreciating the variety within each chapter. There are relevant statistics, examples from real life where God has helped people affected by each issue, and references to Bible texts that are unpacked to show how they apply.

Within the first few pages, you’ll read about a cohabiting couple who were having a meal with a friend, who asked them how long they planned to stay together. The girl said, ‘For the rest of my life.’ The boy said, ‘Until the end of term.’ We both found this very striking and it led to a good chat about cohabitation, how different it is to marriage, and why commitment is so vital. Language like ‘sexual intimacy’ is used frequently, so it’s important to decide when a child is ready to read it. It might well be a good opportunity to introduce them to words they’re going to hear a lot in coming years so that

before they hear alternative definitions elsewhere we tell them what they mean.

The up-to-date statistics are something I’m appreciating; I don’t feel I’m presenting yesterday’s arguments. Having a resource to read together makes chats about these topics more focused and less embarrassing, whether we use it with teens or pre-teens in our churches or families – they all need us to help ground them in the truth!

Andrew Farquhar

Somerton, Somerset

22 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

Features

By Austin Walker

Retired pastor of Maidenbower Baptist Church, Crawley. Currently a member of Castlefields Church, Derby, and an occasional preacher.

S0urce: Shutterstock

The church of Christ is always under pressure. Her very existence is called into question. Today, some think they have successfully shunted the church into the sidings, leaving her to rust away.

Many of her opponents regard her as a barrier to progress. She is often dismissed because she represents an increasingly irrelevant minority.

How different from the perspectives Christ outlined in Matthew 16:18 – ‘And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.’

This article focuses on the affirmation of Christ regarding his church. Here he speaks to Peter and his other disciples about the cosmic conflict between himself and the powers of darkness.

Context

Christ’s affirmation at Caesarea Philippi was made at a crucial time in his earthly life and left a permanent impression on his disciples.

It is preceded by a question as to his identity. He declared he was the Son of Man. How did men see him? He was drawing out a confession from the disciples. He asks all of them (the ‘you’ in verse 14 is plural) about his identity, but Peter speaks for them all: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’

They confess his messiahship and his full divinity. They had observed his life, witnessed his miracles, heard his teachings and his claims. They reached a clear conviction as to his identity. However, what follows Christ’s affirmation startles them. In

verses 21–23 he speaks of his imminent sufferings, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem.

Peter protests, but this is met by a stern rebuke from Christ: ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ That rebuke indicates an already-existing conflict between Christ and the powers of darkness. The disciples need to understand how Christ will build his church. They may still be thinking in terms of a triumphant earthly kingdom and drawing wrong conclusions from his messiahship and his divinity.

Looking back, we know the church cannot be built until the work of redemption has been accomplished and then applied through the universal preaching of the gospel. The disciples, however, could not marry Christ’s identity with his sufferings. They seemed a contradiction. They were slow to grasp all that he was saying just as we are sometimes. To the Jews, Christ crucified was a stumbling block; to the Gentiles it was utter folly.

Those who have believed on Christ gladly acknowledge that ‘Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God’ (1 Corinthians 1:12). It is

a matter of divine revelation, something Christ made known to Peter and the disciples (Matthew 16:17).

Conflict

In his affirmation, the Lord is using a large canvas depicting a cosmic conflict, one that will reach its climax in the last days. Christ will emerge victorious. Whether Christ is referring to hell or to the realm of death (Hades) it makes little difference. He is speaking of conflict.

Christ clearly confirms that he will build his church. That is what he has come to accomplish. He is not speaking simply of saving individuals but of the gathering in of a great harvest: a multi-national community redeemed by his blood (Revelation 1:9).

Though not expressed in Matthew 16, the building of the church will be accomplished through the preaching of the gospel, beginning with Peter and the apostles in Jerusalem and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This is what Christ is affirming in Matthew 16:18.

It is effectively a promise, spoken with all the authority of the King of kings. He will gather together the people of God from among the Jews and the Gentile

nations. Thus, 40 days after his resurrection hundreds were converted, repenting of their sins. This is entirely in keeping with Christ’s commission recorded in Matthew 28:18-20 and Luke 24:46-49.

It should not escape our notice that Jesus speaks as the one to whom ‘all authority has been given… in heaven and on earth’ (Matthew 28:18). That echoes his affirmation in Matthew 16:18.

There is a second aspect to his affirmation: ‘the gates of Hades [or Hell] shall not prevail against it.’ There has been much debate about the meaning of this phrase. Clearly Christ is referring to the forces opposed to his building programme. It seems best to take the phrase as relating to the powers of darkness where death reigns. That means he is referring to the power of Satan and his kingdom of darkness.

Christ is saying in effect he will build his church in enemy-occupied territory and that he will triumph. This is reflected in the commission Paul was given by the exalted Christ, recorded in Acts 26:17-18. Paul was sent to the Gentiles, ‘to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God’.

Conquest

No matter what has happened to the church of Christ since his resurrection, and no matter what happens after the current generation of preachers has left the stage, Christ’s affirmation remains in place. The king, the head of the church, has spoken. His words have the force of a decree and provide a firm anchor for our faith.

The church will experience many setbacks, sorrows, trials, and persecutions. We may be frustrated by covid and distressed by recent events and their effect on the churches in Myanmar and Afghanistan. Yet Christ’s decree stands. He will conquer and triumph. No angel in heaven, no man on earth, and no demon in hell can alter it.

The risen Christ has been placed, ‘far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And he put all things under his feet, and gave him to

Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 23

Features

be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all’ (Ephesians 1:21-23).

Confirmation of the promises and prophecies

Consider now the bigger picture behind our Lord’s affirmation. Everything prior to it can be tied in one way or another to Old Testament narratives, promises, and prophecies.

His words, spoken to a mere handful of men, are an outworking of Genesis 3:15: ‘And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.’ Those are words directed to the serpent, Satan. The Lord God placed enmity between the two parties.

The conflict is no chance accident of history. The initiative is not taken by the powers of darkness. It is a sovereign act of God that establishes the agenda – enmity between the seed of the woman (Christ) and the seed of the serpent.

The outcome is also established by divine sovereignty. The seed of the woman shall conquer but at a price, the bruising of his heel. The Lord God is in total control and he has his champion. There is war in the heavenly realms but it is also played out on an earthly stage. Indeed, Christ will build his church in enemy-occupied territory.

Genesis 3:15 sets the scene for this cosmic conflict. Numerous examples of the conflict can be found in the Scriptures in the history of Israel and in the writings of the prophets, e.g. Cain and Abel; Babel; Egypt and Israel; Ahab, Jezebel, and Elijah; and Assyria and Judah.

One of the clearest declarations reflecting the triumph of the seed of the woman in building his church is to be found in the prophet Isaiah: ‘Indeed he says, “It is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be my salvation to the ends of the earth”’ (Isaiah 49:6).

Conflict through persecution

Satan, despite his lion-like strength, will not be able to persecute the church so as

to drive it out of existence. He uses earthly rulers and powers to oppose the church in various ways. Persecution takes various forms. It was present in the early church, so soon after Christ’s resurrection and exaltation.

In Acts 4 and 5 we see the Jewish high priest and the Sanhedrin opposing the apostles, but unable to stop the growth of the church (Acts 5:14). Stephen is stoned to death (Acts 7). The worst of the Jewish persecutors, having made havoc of the church, is stopped in his tracks and converted (Acts 9) and begins to preach Christ. He failed to destroy the church of God. Herod has James killed and Peter imprisoned (Acts 12).

Persecution by the Roman imperial authorities continued for some three hundred years. It has continued down through the centuries. Think of the English Marian martyrs and the Huguenot church in France that was hounded to death.

Today, persecution continues across the world in Islamic nations and in Myanmar and China, to name but a few instances. It is the permanent experience of the church of Christ in one form or another.

Conflict with false doctrine and worship

Despite his serpent-like cunning and guile, Satan will not be able

to destroy the church by false doctrine, worship, or practices. Error and heresy arises within the professing church. 2 Peter, Jude, and I John testify to the struggle against false doctrines.

In the early centuries Christ raised up men like Athanasius and Augustine to defend key aspects of the gospel. In the Reformation period there was much false worship and confusion over the way of salvation. Luther championed justification by faith. Later generations of Christians had to fight against deism and rationalism where false teachers tried to explain away the supernaturalism of the Christian faith.

In our day, almost every biblical doctrine is discredited and denied. We face the challenges of error promoted by woke ‘theology’ and some of the social justice movements. The falsehoods being promoted, if inculcated by the church, will threaten its very existence.

Some implications for today’s church

First, Christ’s assertion inspires assurance and confidence in Christ’s work of salvation. The church of God is always safe. The saints of God have been justified, adopted into God’s family, and are being sanctified. They have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. He is the guarantee of their inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Paul was confident that the God ‘who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ’ (Philippians 1:6). The Lamb will win the day, despite the raging of the battle. From Revelation 12:9 through to the end of chapter 20 that message is absolutely clear.

Satan will be overthrown and ‘cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are’ (Revelation 20:10). The conflict will cease. ‘Salvation, strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ have come’ (Revelation 12:10).

Second, the agenda of conflict God set after the fall delivers the church from a false triumphalism. We should not conclude from Christ’s affirmation that victory will be secured without many different battles. The church cannot sit back in a comfortable armchair and relax all the way to heaven. She will be constantly under pressure.

Persecution in varying degrees is inevitable and she must continue in every generation to ‘contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints’ (Jude 3).

Third, the church must be active and fight strenuously. We are engaged in a war that requires the whole armour of God. Paul reminds us that

‘we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places’ (Ephesians 6:12). The church of Christ is called to vigilance, to pray constantly and preach the gospel whatever the circumstances.

To us, the fact that God has placed enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent and that there is an ongoing cosmic conflict that will finally end in Christ’s triumph may seem strange.

Why is there this enmity? This is the way God has chosen to display his glory and especially his wisdom and power. The church is vulnerable and often appears to be under the cosh and threatened with extinction. Nothing looked to be more of a failure than the death of Christ. He was crucified in weakness. Yet Christ had already declared ‘Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to myself’ (John 12:31-32).

That sounds like the same triumph Christ affirmed to his disciples in the region of Caesarea Philippi so many years ago. Christ will build his church.

S0urce: Adobe Stock

24 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 25

I trained as a journalist. For many years I was a media spokesman, and I dealt with news reporters almost every day. Today, in addition to my calling as a church pastor, I also edit this newspaper, Evangelical Times. I don’t think I’ll ever lose that sense of being a newshound. But I’m increasingly concerned about the way Christians consume and digest the news media.

The need for wisdom

In this age of 24-hour rolling news and social media algorithms constantly feeding us a never-ending stream of breaking headlines, we need wisdom. The Bible tells us that wisdom starts with a fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:1), not a cowering fear towards a vicious tyrant, but a reverential fear towards a loving Father. And, Scripture says, if we lack wisdom we should ask God who gives generously (James 1:5). Wisdom is not the same thing as knowledge. I know many knowledgeable people who are not in the least bit wise, and I know many simple folk who are among the wisest people I know. Wisdom is having good judgment, to think and to do what is right in God’s eyes.

So when you are scrolling through the headlines on your smartphone, or when you turn on the TV news, or open your newspaper, or listen to the radio, or log on to the blogosphere – do so wisely. Ask yourself, does your Heavenly Father approve of the news content you’re viewing? Is it helping you to have good judgment? Or is it simply puffing you up with knowledge? Or worse, is it distorting your ability to see and understand what it good and right? ‘Look

carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise’ (Ephesians 5:15). We all need wisdom as we consume the news.

Show self-control

We also need self-control. Over-eating can seriously damage your health. The same is true when it comes to over-consumption of the news. Research shows the number one platform for reading the news is the smartphone, and the number one pathway to the news is Facebook. The addictive nature of social media has been well documented. Tech firms’ algorithms are designed to keep users online, with infinite scrolling giving us regular dopamine hits. The algorithms are also very good at feeding you more of what you like, so you end up getting a very polarised perspective. Many people have an unhealthy attachment to their smartphone, checking it compulsively every few minutes. Is that a description of you?

Christians shouldn’t be addicted to the news. The Bible tells us that self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23). We are not to be intoxicated by anything. Not by wine, not by drugs, not by greed, not by lust, and not by the scrolling news headlines on our electronic devices. But if you have become hooked, then remember this: ‘No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it’ (1 Corinthians 10:13). So lock your device away in a drawer, walk away, get some fresh air, talk to a friend, and pray to the Lord.

Discern what is primary

In addition to wisdom and self-control, we also need discernment. Sinclair Ferguson said true discernment is, ‘not only distinguishing the right from the wrong; it means distinguishing the primary from the secondary, the essential from the indifferent, and the permanent from the transient.’ We need that

ability to distinguish when it comes to the news media. The news media like to present everything as urgent, pressing, vital, and crucial. But of course, most of it isn’t.

Do you really need to read another story about the latest celebrity calamity? Do you really need to watch another left-right debate between political commentators? Do you really need to listen to another podcast detailing the latest horrific crime in your city? Sometimes the answer may be yes, if it is a truly significant development. But the vast majority of those news stories will be merely transitory and secondary – especially when compared to spiritual things. So learn to be discerning in the news media you consume.

Beware of worldly mindedness

Of course, we can’t talk about discernment without also mentioning the worldly bias that is often present in the news. The mainstream media generally has a socially progressive and anti-biblical agenda. There may be some exceptions here and there, but generally mainstream journalists have a worldview very different from our own. It’s not just the way the news is reported, but the selection of the news stories themselves that can distort our view of reality.

Perhaps that is why the alternative media is growing so fast. But there, too, you need discernment so that you don’t fall into rabbit holes of conspiracy theories and radical fringe groups. We are warned, ‘avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless’ (Titus 3:9). Oh that more Christians would heed those words today! Nevertheless, there are some good, godly, and faithful alternative media outlets for Christians to use.

Do not be anxious

Amid the swirling reports of wars, pandemics, politics, crime, earthquakes, and scandals, it is easy to become worried and depressed about the state of the world. You can make yourself unnecessarily anxious by the consumption of too much news. Again, Scripture counsels us against a fearfulness that makes us doubt the sovereign care of the Lord: ‘do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God’ (Philippians 4:6).

If you find the news is making you anxious, you may need to drastically cut back the amount you are consuming. Switch off your smartphone, shut the laptop, unplug the TV, close the newspaper. By all means, get the headlines in the morning, and catch a summary in the evening. But otherwise, give your head and your soul some time away from the drama. Open the Scriptures, and remind yourself, ‘Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand’ (Proverbs 19:21).

Guard your heart

The volume of infotainment masquerading as serious news is growing. The latest salacious celebrity gossip stories and the newest glamourous pictures of Hollywood stars is increasingly difficult to avoid if you are following the news media. It is thrust in front of your eyes even if you aren’t searching for it. Not only that, but today’s

political analysis is often characterised by nasty invective and foul abuse which – if we are not careful – can have a corrupting impact on our own attitudes.

So we must keep watch and guard ourselves. ‘Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life’ (Proverbs 4:23). Remember the glorious promises that have been given to those who are called to be in Christ: ‘Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God’ (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Live as God’s children

I’m writing about the dangers of consuming too much news, but please don’t misunderstand me, journalism can be a noble profession which does much good. The benefits of a free press are manifold. If we are to fulfil the command to love our neighbour, we cannot be ignorant about what is going on in the world. Keeping ourselves informed will also help us to effectively communicate the gospel to a world that is crying out for truth.

But nevertheless, many Christians are suffering from an unhealthy diet of too much news. Here’s the Bible’s remedy: Take a generous helping of wisdom, add a good deal of self-control and discernment, avoid worldly mindedness and unnecessary anxiety, and make sure to guard your heart. In short, ‘be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world’ (Philippians 2:15).

This article was first published in Tabletalk, the Bible study magazine of Ligonier Ministries. Found out more at TabletalkMagazine.co.uk or try it free for three months today at TryTabletalk.co.uk.

Features

By Mike Judge

Pastor of Chorlton Evangelical Church in Manchester and the Editor of ET.

26 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

Features

Should Christians go to university?

As one set of young adults sets off for university with their kettles and toasters, another group is about to apply for places. But should Christians go? Not automatically. Many young people are happy to be caught up in the application cycle if that’s where everyone else is. Those on the broad road want to fit in.

But Christian young people will be different. Especially with such a significant life decision, the Christian will ask: is this the best for me in my service of Christ? The answer may be yes, but the question must be asked. And we must be prepared for the answer to be no.

Sadly, the world can treat university years as a responsibility-free rite of passage. The believer will want to evaluate whether to go based on biblical considerations like stewardship, future family, temptations, and vocation.

Stewardship test

The attitude of many to money has been described as ‘me-ism’ and ‘now-ism’. YOLO – you only live once and need to live for the moment. Every Christian is called to be a steward in this selfish age of ours. Our opportunity is not to live for the moment but to plan for the future in the light of eternity.

The Christian knows God expects us to earn enough to feed ourselves (2 Thessalonians 3:10), have something left for sharing (Ephesians 4:28), give systematically as we prosper (1 Corinthians 16:2), for a man to provide for his household (1 Timothy 5:8) – and then to enjoy as God blesses (1 Timothy 6:17).

So an important question for the Christian considering

university is this: does going to university make it easier or harder to obey these commands? Are the years a worthwhile investment or a long-term drag?

This question has become more pressing in recent years. Up until the 1990s the maintenance grant was still in place. Before 2004, with tuition fees only £1000 a year and living costs much lower, either parental backing or long vacation work allowed many students to leave university debt free.

The question has become even starker this year. The loan period has lengthened. Now the price of university is essentially an additional tax rate of 9% above earnings of £25,000 a year with almost half predicted to be repaying for 40 years. This does not mean that it is always poor stewardship to go to university. It does mean some serious consideration of future earnings potential.

When I was tasked with leading the university application process at a sixth form, I sought advice from as many informed people as I could. Some of the most cogent

advice came from a seasoned careers advisor.

First, he said to only study for a traditional subject (e.g. English, Maths) at a top Russell Group university. (There’s a reason why too many arts graduates end up in retail or hospitality.) Second, he said that if anyone cannot get the grades for this, they should seek a more applied course ending with a professional qualification – like becoming a chartered engineer. Third, failing that, he advised seeking a foundation year that gets a person on a course with a professional qualification.

The sad fact is that too many degrees are now poor stewardship because they leave large debt without sufficiently increased earning potential. This should not surprise us as numbers in higher education have increased much faster than the number of high-paying graduate jobs. Higher education participation was under 4 per cent in 1950, rose to around 15 per cent by 1970 where it stayed fairly flat until doubling in the 1990s, and reached 33 per cent in 2000.

Today around 38 per cent of 18-year-olds enter higher

education and over 50 per cent access it by the age of 30. Christians must ask: can I get on a course that remains a good investment given the debt I’m incurring?

Family test

The usual calling for a man or woman is to be a father or mother. (The noble calling to lifelong singleness is less common.) Therefore, every Christian should ask how their university choice aids or hampers their ability to be a godly father or mother.

A major pressure in our day is for housing. Were two believers to leave school at 16 and work the next five years in minimum wage jobs, they would have earned around £150,000 between them, incurring little tax. Assuming they lived at home, paying board but saving hard, they could marry, with a substantial deposit towards a house, when their (heavily indebted) compatriots graduated. (This is an illustration, not a recommendation!)

A good question to ask is this: if I graduate in a particular subject, how many years will

it be before I am in a position to buy a house? For Christian young men, 1 Timothy 5:8 will be a pressing concern – even if that isn’t over-exegeted to suggest wives must be economically inactive.

Another question: how will my choices affect the need, should I marry, for two full-time wages? Increasing numbers of Christians, against their natural inclination, are considering homeschooling due to the worldview being inculcated in schools. If economics necessitate both parents working full-time then this can never be an option. Given the current trajectory of our culture, is it wise to rule it out?

The family test raises another question: am I choosing a career that is stable? Once you have dependants there is huge pressure to compromise on principle to keep your job and income.

Christians today have a big presence in the public sector. It is laudable and crucial to support Christians maintaining their positions and presence in places like schools. But that is not the same as asking the question about the future: when

By Paul Smith

Full-time elder of Grace Baptist Church, Broadstairs, Kent. He is also a director and the book reviews editor for ET.

S0urce: Shutterstock

Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 27

Crunch Points

Crunch Points

How do Christians combat the lack of biblical literacy within the church in a culture which doesn’t care about learning?

We begin with ourselves. Do we delve delightedly into our Bibles, memorising and meditating upon the Scriptures? I fear few believers read their whole Bibles – not necessarily reading robotically from Genesis to Revelation, but actually reading it all.

Some people seem terrified of certain portions, ending up with functionally incomplete Bibles and a failure to reckon with the whole counsel of God. That could even mean a twisted Father, a truncated Christ, a trimmed Spirit, a shallower sense of the scope and sweep of salvation.

So we must read our whole Bible, praying for understanding (Psalm 119:18; Ephesians 1:15-21). We might also use commentaries and other aids to help us grasp what we are reading in its immediate and wider biblical context.

There are other tools: biblical ‘introduction’ helps to know the origin and structure of each book, humanly speaking. Simple biblical theology and basic books on biblical interpretation help us understand how the Bible holds together as a whole and as parts.

I can recommend books which might help you (other pastors could give similar counsel). We may not end up being academic theologians, but we are not afraid of learning, of using our minds.

There are also things to do as a church. First of all, we give attention to reading (1 Timothy 4:13). Churches should read through the Scriptures publicly, giving brief explanations

(that’s how Matthew Henry’s Commentary began life).

Even at a fairly slow pace, a church can read through the New Testament twice and the Old Testament once in ten years, hearing the whole Bible read and explained. Preachers must preach so that the whole Bible comes alive – preaching from both Testaments, perhaps some more rapid series which give a good overall sense of various books.

There are Bible studies (or Bible classes or adult Sunday schools, small group studies, and the like) by which we introduce people to the whole Word of God, explain whole books, and give basic help in getting the sense of the text. Not everyone will manage everything, but we can help everyone to the best of their, and our, ability.

So with our own example (individually and corporately), our evident enthusiasm, and our basic equipping of others, we get on with encouragement. Recommend different reading schemes, provide printouts to help people mark off their reading progress, use reading buddies to help people move forward, be ready to answer questions about tricky passages.

Don’t just get people to read; show them how to read, and how to suck out the sweetness. There are some excellent Bible apps to hear the Scriptures – great if people are not great readers themselves (and remember the first ‘readers’ of the prophets and the apostles were hearers).

Tell people that they don’t necessarily need to start at Genesis (then plough through Exodus, struggle through Leviticus, get bogged down in Numbers, and grind to a halt in Deuteronomy, missing God in Christ along the way!). Remind people that a little every day is better than a lot for a few days!

Get through your Bible in a year, or in three – but get through it! Read at different paces for different effects – verses for meditation, sections for study, chapters for understanding, books for sense. Get the holy habit, and then persevere.

How about asking a few people if they want to read through an unfamiliar portion of the Bible with us over the next few months? It is surprising how much progress we can make with just a chapter a day.

Christians are not afraid of learning, of thinking, of study: we set our renewed minds on things above in order that we might be transformed (Romans 12:1-2, Colossians 3:2). Let us do it ourselves, and help others to do it, too, that we might know more and more of God and his Christ by the help of the Spirit.

If you would like an answer to a crunch question, please email crunchpoints@evangelical-times.org. We cannot guarantee an answer to every question.

By Jeremy Walker

Pastor of Maidenbower Baptist Church in Crawley.

We all value biblical advice from our elders, the first ones to whom we turn for counsel. Jeremy Walker outlines the kind of answer he might give to a question received at the chapel door.

Biblical literacy

Source: Ben white/unsplash.com

today’s university students become government ministers and headteachers, where will that leave me? Does my choice of university course put me on course for a stable family income?

During the 1920s all the major denominations caved to the culture and went increasingly liberal. Evangelicals today owe a lot to the Brethren who flourished in that period. Few of them – and other nonconformists – went to universities; indeed they steered clear. The Brethren were known for hard work and running their own businesses. Could we have something to learn from them in the 2020s?

Temptation test

University days have long been associated with moral temptations. One wise friend said to me, ‘The fruit of the Spirit is self control, so don’t put yourself in situations where you cannot exercise it.’ For those young or weak in the faith it is wiser to forgo or delay university than to enter situations where the struggle for purity or sobriety is currently too much.

There are also mental temptations, particularly to be conformed to the thinking of this world. In this regard the dangers are ironically less in the sciences where the creation/evolution battle is readily identified. They are far more insidious in the arts, with the faith of many an unwary or overconfident student corrupted or overthrown through the study of subjects like Religious Studies or English Literature.

There are also cultural temptations. Cultural Marxists have successfully made a ‘long march through the institutions’. Christians should not underestimate the threat to their souls of being immersed in peak wokeness for three or more years. It is all too easy for unbiblical behaviours, thinking, and language to be normalised or even unwittingly adopted.

Increased temptations do not rule out university for the Christian. We are to be in the world but not of it. But they do raise the bar for the benefit needed to undergo them.

Vocational test

One helpful descriptor of education is, ‘learning to glorify God with the gifts that we have been given’. This is more nuanced than, ‘do what you like’. You might like playing football or strumming the guitar, but if that does not

allow you to glorify God as a steward then it makes sense to develop other gifts that allow you to make money. I have high respect for a father with a PhD in the arts from a top university who chose a career in IT because it meant he could provide for his family.

There are still good reasons to go. Christians with the finest minds should apply them to God’s glory. We need those who can say, in their particular sphere of study: ‘we destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5). This means a laser-focus on study. It is a high calling first to understand the world’s thinking on its own terms and then to identify how it errs when analysed under a biblically-based lens.

But serious consideration should be given to whether following the crowd to university is the best use of a person’s gifts. People are increasingly taking a closer look at apprenticeships. Just because someone has an able mind doesn’t mean they need to sit in lectures: someone might apply their mind to being a capable electrician, earning a substantial wage. Accountancy qualifications can be gained without going to university. Competent and reliable tradesmen are eagerly sought after.

With vast online offerings, there is no barrier to study alongside paid work or even after gaining funds from it. One young man first worked his way up, gaining qualifications and securing his financial future, then honed his mind with further studies in the arts.

Should Christians go?

So is it bad for a Christian to go to university? Absolutely not. But there are bad reasons to go. Christians should be more considered than ‘everyone else is’ or ‘I’ve no other ideas’ or ‘I want the university experience’.

Have I focused more on the challenges than the opportunities? Absolutely. Because the world is not asking about biblical stewardship, preparing for parenthood, avoiding temptation, and Christian vocation. I’ve written to provoke thought!

May every Christian young person prosper, taking the next step having thought things through rigorously and prayerfully from a biblical perspective!

28 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

Events Diary

THIS SPACE IS FOR YOU — send us details of your forthcoming special meetings, which we will endeavour to fit in, as space allows. Alternatively you can submit an event using the website: http://www.evangelical-times.org/events/submit.php

ALL ITEMS FOR THE EVENTS DIARY MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE THE 1ST OF THE MONTH PRECEDING THE MONTH OF PUBLICATION. THEY WILL BE DISPLAYED IN BOTH THE NEWSPAPER AND ET WEBSITE.

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Events Diary

LONDON. Protestant Truth Society Bookshop, 184 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2HJ. PTS Bite-size School of Theology, every Tuesday lunchtime from 1.10–1.45pm. Subject: ‘Christ’s office: the mercy of God’ (Geoff Thomas). All welcome; tea & coffee provided.

CHELTENHAM. Providence Baptist Chapel, Naunton Parade, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL53 7NP. Christian Institute meeting 7:30pm. Subject: ‘Loving our neighbour’. Speakers: Christian Institute staff. Contact: Mr John Hope (07887) 670721.

LONDON. Protestant Truth Society Bookshop, 184 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2HJ. PTS Bite-size School of Theology, every Tuesday lunchtime from 1.10–1.45pm. Subject: ‘True worship – safeguarding against idolatry’ (Jonny Dowds). All welcome; tea & coffee provided.

TOTTENHAM. Grace Baptist Chapel, Napier Road, Tottenham, N17 6XX. Bible Spreading Union 129th Annual Meeting, 7.30pm. Preacher: Pastor Philip Knowles.

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NEWQUAY. Newquay Evangelical Church, Bank Street, Newquay, TR7 1DJ. Christian Institute meeting 7:30pm. Subject: ‘Loving our neighbour’. Speakers: Christian Institute staff. Contact: Pastor Matthew Bray (07517) 136772

EXETER. Christ Church Exeter, Grosvenor Place, Exeter, EX1 2HJ. Christian Institute meeting 7:30pm. Subject: ‘Loving our neighbour’. Speakers: Christian Institute staff. Contact: Revd Steven Hanna (07506) 558840

CHIPPENHAM, Wiltshire. Ladyfield Church, Hungerdown Lane, SN14 0BA. Corsham & Chippenham Central Bible Study, 7.30pm. Speaker: Derrick Morlan (Oxford). Contact (01225) 708643. www.cccbs.org.uk

BOURNEMOUTH. Moordown Baptist Church, 92 The Avenue, Moordown, Bournemouth, BH9 2UU. Christian Institute meeting 7:30pm. Subject: ‘Loving our neighbour’. Speakers: Christian Institute staff. Contact: info@moordownbaptist.org or The Christian Institute (0191) 281 5664

LONDON. Protestant Truth Society Bookshop, 184 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2HJ. PTS Bite-size School of Theology, every Tuesday lunchtime from 1.10–1.45pm. Subject: ‘Practical Puritans: John Owen (part 3)’ (Edward J Malcolm). All welcome; tea & coffee provided.

LONDON. Court Farm Evangelical Church, 198 Court Farm Rd, Mottingham, London, SE9 4JS. Christian Institute meeting 8:00pm. Subject: ‘Loving our neighbour’. Speakers: Christian Institute staff. Contact: Lisa Oni (020) 8249 0154.

SANDHURST. Sandhurst Baptist Church, Sandhurst, Kent, TN18 5PG. Christian Institute meeting 7:00pm. Subject: ‘Loving our neighbour’. Speakers: Christian Institute staff. Contact: Mr Chris Knott (01580) 850251.

SHOLING, Southampton. Spring Road Evangelical Church, 169 Spring Road, Southampton, SO19 2NU. Anniversary service at 3.30pm. Preacher: Pastor Chris Hand (Crich). All very welcome. www.springroad.org.uk

CHIPPENHAM, Wiltshire. Ladyfield Church, Hungerdown Lane, SN14 0BA. Corsham & Chippenham Central Bible Study, 7.30pm. Speaker: Robert Oliver (Bradford-on-Avon). Contact (01225) 708643. www.cccbs.org.uk

LONDON. New Life Bible Presbyterian Church, 44 Salusbury Road, London, NW6 6NN. Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony meetings. Theme: ‘The Prophecy of Zechariah’. Subject: The Shepherd of Israel (chapters 10–11), 4.00pm; The Final Conflict and Deliverance (chapter 12), 7.00pm. Preacher: David McMillan.

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Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 29

CHURCHES

ENGLAND

BEDFORDSHIRE

WESTONING. Baptist Church, Greenfield Road, MK45 5JD. Sunday 11.00am & 6.00pm. Sunday school 9.30-10.30am. Tuesday prayer meeting/Bible study 7.15pm. Large on-site car park. Services also on Zoom, www.westoningbaptistchurch.org For further

details contact Matthew Aldridge pastor@westoningbaptistchurch.org

BRISTOL

BRISTOL. Buckingham Chapel, Queen’s Road, Clifton. Sunday 11.00am & 6.00pm, Wednesday 7.30pm. Contact: Pastor Oliver Gross, tel: 0117 3368711. www.buckinghamchapel.org.uk

BRISTOL. Zetland Evangelical Church, 4/6 North Road, BS6 5AE. Sunday 11.00am & 6.30pm. Contact: Eddie O’Brien. Tel: 0117 9629868. www.zetlandchurch.org.uk

YATE. Grace Church, 250 Station Road, Yate, BS37 4AF. Sunday 11.00am & 6.00pm. Wednesday 7.30pm. Contact: The Elders, tel: 07783 300862. www.gracechurchyate.org

CAMBRIDGESHIRE

CHATTERIS. Community Church, The King Edward Centre, King Edward Road, PE16 6NG. Sunday 10.30am. For Sunday evening and midweek meetings please phone Pastor Robert Read. Tel: 01354 694393.

CORNWALL

FALMOUTH. Carrick Free Baptist Church, Bosvale Community Centre, off Hillside Road, TR11 4HQ. Sunday 10.45am & 6.30pm. Tel: 01209 862920. E-mail: carrickfbc@gmail.com www.carrickfbc.org.uk

FALMOUTH, Falmouth Evangelical Church, Killigrew Street, (by the Moor). Sundays 10.30am & 6.30pm. E-mail: mikeccoles@aim.com www.fec.org.uk

GORRAN HAVEN. Haven Church (off Church Street), PL26 6JN. Sunday 10.00am (Breaking of Bread) & 4.00pm. Wednesdays 7.30pm. Enquiries: 01726 842873. Website: www.havenchurch.co

NEWQUAY. Ebenezer Baptist Chapel, Chapel Hill, TR7 1ND. Sunday 11.00am &

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CUMBRIA

KESWICK. Lake Road Chapel, CA12 5BS. Sundays 10.30am & 4.00pm. Thursdays 7.00pm. Enquiries: Philip Helm, 01768 88797. E-mail: philip@lakeroadchapel.net www.lakeroadchapel.net

DERBYSHIRE

CRICH. Baptist Church, Market Place. Sunday 10.45am & 6.00pm. PM/BS Tuesday 7.30pm. Pastor Chris Hand, tel: 01773 853180. E-mail: info@crichbaptist.org www.crichbaptist.org

DERBY. Castlefields Church. Sunday 10.00am & 4.30pm @ Derby Conference Centre, London Road, DE24 8UX. Wednesday 7.30pm @ Traffic Street, DE1 2NL. www.castlefieldschurch.org.uk, 01332 550879.

STANTON LEES CHAPEL (off A6 nr Darley Dale). Sunday: 8.00am prayer meeting; 2.30pm & 6.30pm services. Pastor Jonathan Bayes. Wednesday 7.30pm. Tel: 0771 2080257. www.stantonleeschapel.org.uk

DEVON

EXETER. Independent Evangelical Church, Fore Street, Heavitree, Exeter, EX1 2RR. Sunday 11.00am & 6.30pm. Thursday 7.00pm Bible study & prayer. Tel: Pastor Jonathan Munday 01647 270067 or Tom Cook 01392 811204.

GALMPTON, nr Paignton. Galmpton Independent Evangelical Church, Stoke Gabriel Road, TQ5 0NQ. Sunday mornings, 10.30am, evenings Flavel Hall, TQ5 0NJ,

6.30pm at the Roundings. Walford Catling, 01803 925583, or John Young, 07779 169750. All warmly welcome. E-mail: walfordandelaine@hotmail.com www: flavelchapel.com

HONITON. Evangelical Congregational Church, High Street. Sunday services 10.30am & 6.00pm. Tuesday 7.30pm. Contact: Secretary Karl Upchurch, 01404 41245. www.honitonecc.org

PLYMOUTH. Beacon Park Baptist Church, 11 Peverell Park Road, Plymouth, PL3 4LR. Lord’s Day services 10.30am & 6.30pm. Wednesday Bible study 7.30pm. A warm welcome awaits you. Pastor Richard Clarke, tel: 01752 227009.

SMEATHARPE nr Honiton. Newhouse Baptist Church. Sunday 11.00am & 6.00pm. Tuesday 7.00pm. Details: Pastor John Woollam, tel: 01404 861313. www.newhouse-baptist.org.uk

DORSET

CHRISTCHURCH. Carmel Evangelical Church (non-ecumenical) meeting at Homelands Hall, King’s Avenue, Christchurch, BH23 1NP. Sunday services 11.00am & 6.00pm. Thursday Bible study 7.30pm. Tel: Robin Lewis, 01202 475650 or Oliver Rowe, 01202 873952.

GILLINGHAM. Baptist Church Gillingham, Dorset. Sunday 10.30am & 6.30pm. Wednesday 7.30pm Bible study and prayer meeting. Pastor Simon Chase, tel: 01747 826187. Secretary, Peter Wick, tel: 01747 841430. www.gilling-hambaptistchurch.org.uk

ESSEX

WICKFORD. Reformed Baptist Church. Sunday 10.30am & 6.30pm. Thursday 7.30pm. Details from secretary, tel: 01268 735127. www.WickfordReformedBaptistChurch.org.uk

Continued on page 30

30 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

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GLOUCESTERSHIRE

GLOUCESTER. Trinity Baptist Church (Free Evangelical), Finlay Road. Sunday 10.30am & 6.00pm. Bible study & prayer, Thursday 7.30pm. Pastor Matt Gamston, Contact: 07835 417188. E-mail: matt@tbcgloucester.org www.tbcgloucester.org

HAMPSHIRE

ANDOVER. Koinonia Evangelical Church warmly invites you to join us in worship and fellowship. We meet at Endeavour Primary School, Kirk Campus, Dairy Road, Andover, SP11 6YG on Sunday at 10.30am & 6.30pm. Telephone Bas Jacobs on 07799 141526. www.koinonia-andover.com

PORTSMOUTH. Grace Baptist Church, PO3 5AH. Sunday 11.00am & 6.30pm. Contact: Evan Richards, 07922 179274. Web: www.graceportsmouth.com

WINCHESTER. Hyde Street Chapel. Sunday 10.00am & 5.30pm. Thursday 7.30pm. www.hydestreetchapel.org or Pastor Richard Turner, tel: 02380 445742. Visitors warmly welcomed.

HERTFORDSHIRE

BALDOCK. Reformed Baptist Church at

Community Centre, (1689 BCOF). Sunday school 9.15am. Morning service 11.00am; Evangelistic service 6.00pm. Wednesday 7.15pm. You are warmly welcome. Contact: J. E. Northern, 01462 834464. www.baldockbap-tistchurch.org.uk

BOREHAMWOOD. Cowley Hill Free Church (Baptist). Sunday 11.00am & 6.30pm; Wednesday 7.30pm. Contact: Philip Hambridge, 0208 9531867.

HATFIELD. Evangelical Baptist Church, now at Eden House, School Lane, Hatfield, AL10 8AX. Sunday 11.00am. S/school 9.45am. Wednesday 7.30pm. Pastor Murray Gifkins, 01707 884534. See www.hope4hatfield.org

ISLE OF WIGHT

SANDOWN. Avenue Road Evangelical Church, PO36 8BN. Sunday 11.00am & 6.00pm. Tuesday 10.30am, prayer & Bible study (NKJV; CH). Contact tel: 01983 403725.

KENT

CHATHAM. Enon Baptist Church, Skinner Street, ME4 5RF. Sunday 11.15am and 6.30pm. Wednesday 7.30pm. Pastor: Paul Relf, tel: 01634 301499. www.enonbaptistchatham.org.uk

WHITSTABLE. Hamilton Road Evangelical Church, CT5 1JX. Sunday: 11.00am & 6.00pm; SS 11.00am; PM/BS Wednesday 7.30pm. For more details please contact our pastor Adam Laughton, e-mail: info@hamiltonroad.org.uk or tel: 01227 263614. A warm welcome to all.

LANCASHIRE

BLACKBURN Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Fecitt Brow, BB1 2AZ. Sabbath services 11.00am & 6.30pm. Minister: Revd Norman Green. Tel: 01254 260388.

BLACKPOOL. Blackpool Tabernacle Church, 2 Springfield Road, FY1 1QL. Sunday services 11.00am & 6.00pm. Wednesday meetings/Growth groups at 7.30pm. Revd V. P. Tracey & Revd J. Wilson. Website: www.blackpooltaber-nacle.com Mob: 07305 950615 / 07586 241919. E-mail: contact@blackpooltabernacle.com

LEICESTER CITY

LEICESTER. Melbourne Hall Evangelical Free Church, St Peters Road. Sunday 10.45am & 6.00pm. Wednesday 7.30pm Bible study/prayer meeting. A warm welcome to everyone. Pastor: Peter Mackenzie, tel: 0116 288 8156. www.melbournehall.org

LEICESTERSHIRE

HINCKLEY. Grace Baptist Church (Independent – KJV Bible used), 216 Coventry Road, LE10 0NG. Revd Christopher Salmon. Visitors always welcome. Sunday services 10.30am & 6.00pm. Wednesday prayer & Bible study 7.00pm. All enquiries please phone 01455 612377 or church 01455 617857.

WIGSTON. Little Hill Church, Launceston Road, Wigston, SATNAV LE18 2FU. Sundays 10.30am & 5.30pm. Tel: 01162 886555. E-mail: admin@littlehill.org.uk www.littlehill.org.uk Warm welcome.

LINCOLNSHIRE

BILLINGHAY. Baptist Chapel, Church Street. Sunday 10.30am & 6.00pm. Tuesday 7.00pm. Pastor Richard Hilliard, tel: 07717 392628. www.billinghaybaptistchapel.co.uk

LINCOLN. Evangelical Church, Uffington Close, off Skellingthorpe Road, LN6 0AE. Sunday 11.00am & 6.00pm. Thursday 7.45pm. Pastor Andrew Thomson, 07999 250789. E-mail: a1thomson@aol.com

LOUTH. Evangelical Church, Monksdyke Road. Sunday 10.45am & 5.00pm. Wednesday 10.30am. Elder: C. Sharp, tel: 01507 339714 (01507 605353).

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

NEWCASTLE. Reformed Evangelical Church, Hoylake Avenue, Longbenton, NE7 7UN. Sunday 10.30am & 6.00pm. Wednesday Bible study, 7.30pm. Minister: Revd Dan Peters. For further details see www.nrechurch.co.uk or tel: 0191 2662422 or 0191 2859757.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

SLAPTON & WAPPENHAM Independent Evangelical Church (near Towcester). Sunday 10.30am and 5.00pm. Sunday school 10.30am, at Wappenham. Tuesday Bible Study 7.30pm. Contact Pastor Trevor Thomas for details, 07950 434258. www.towcesterevangelicalchurch.uk

NORTHUMBERLAND

LONGHORSLEY. Mission Free Church (FIEC). Sunday morning service 11.00am with creche; 5.30pm Prayer meeting; 6.00pm Evening service/Bible study. Contact: 01670 518202 or 01661 822546. www.longhorsleymission.org.uk

OXFORDSHIRE

BANBURY. Evangelical Free Church. Sundays 10.30am and 6.30pm; Wednesdays at 7.30pm. Phone: 01295 252607 or 01295 251169 or see www.befc.org.uk for venue details.

SHROPSHIRE

TELFORD. Grace Church Wellington. Sunday 11.00am in the Wellington Library at the Wellington Leisure Centre, TF1 1LX. Visitors welcome. Website: www.gcwellington.com

SUFFOLK

OTLEY. Otley Baptist Chapel, Chapel Road, Suffolk, IP6 9NU. 1st Sunday of each month, 3.00pm. Contact: Trevor Bugg. E-mail: trevor-michaelbugg@outlook.com

WALSHAM-LE-WILLOWS. Walsham-le-Willows Evangelical Congregational Church, The Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 3AZ. Sunday 11.00am & 6.30pm. PM/BS Thursday 7.15pm. Contact: Mr J. Landymore, 01359 258986. E-mail: j.landymore@btinternet.com  www.walsham-le-willows.org/explore/amenities/congregational-church

WEST MIDLANDS

BIRMINGHAM. Chelmsley Wood Reformed Baptist Church meeting at Fordbridge Centre, Nineacres Drive, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, B37 5DD. Sunday 11.00am & 6.00pm. Thursday 8.00pm. Tel: Keith Wrangles, 0121 7792804. E-mail: office@cwrbc.org.uk www.cwrbc.org.uk

WORCESTERSHIRE

DROITWICH. Witton Chapel, Tagwell Road. Evangelical Reformed ministry in Worcestershire. Sunday 10.30am & 6.30pm. Thursday 7.30pm Bible study and prayer meeting. Details: (01905) 794271 or (01684) 567969. www.wittonchapel.org.uk

YORK

YORK. Evangelical Church, Millthorpe School Hall, off Philadelphia Terrace, YO23 1DH. Sunday 10.30am & 6.00pm. E-mail: info@yec.org.uk Tel: 01904 375875. www.yec.org.uk

YORKSHIRE: EAST

HULL. East Hull Presbyterian Church (Evangelical), R/O 336 Holderness Road, Hull, HU9 3DQ. Sunday 10.30am & 5.30pm. Wednesday 10.30am PM/BS. Contact: Chris Lawson, 07527 319617.E-mail: christophermlawson@hotmail.com

HULL. Kingston Evangelical Church, Park Grove off Princes Avenue, HU5 2UR. Sunday services 10.30am & 6.30pm. Wednesday 7.30pm. Bible study and prayer meeting. Enquiries, tel: 01482 844579.

CHURCHES

WALES

CARDIFF. Emmanuel Baptist Church, Gabalfa Avenue, Gabalfa, CF14 2SH. Sunday 11.00am and 6.00pm. Wednesday 7.30pm. Contact: Andrew Lansdown, secretary@emmanuelcar-diff.org Tel: 07969 009310. www.emmanuel-cardiff.org

HAVERFORDWEST, Pembrokeshire. Hill Park Baptist Church (Ind), SA61 2ET. Sundays 11.00am & 6.00pm. Sunday school 10.15-10.45am. Prayer meeting Wednesday 7.00pm. Contact: Revd Ian Middlemist, misty_923@hotmail.com www.hillpark.net

LAMPETER. Evangelical Church, New Church, 16 College Street. Sunday services: English 10.30am, Welsh (with translation) 5.00pm. Wednesday 7.30pm. Contact G. Jones, tel: 01570 423368. www.lampeterevangelicalchurch.org

LLANGOLLEN. Glanrafon Evangelical Church, Princess Street, LL20 8RD. Sunday 11.00am and 6.00pm. Wednesday 7.30pm. Church secretary: 07863 706666. www.glan-rafon.org

LLWYNYPIA. Rhondda Evangelical Church, Salem Terrace, CF40 2JL. Sunday 11.00am

Evangelical Times, September 2023 | 31

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Lake Road Chapel, Keswick, Cumbria is

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TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT for sale Strawberry Hill House, Tunbridge Wells

Built in 2018, this apartment is in a

development of 10 for the over 55's

with a Christian ethos.

Communal lounge & gardens.

Near to local amenities and places of worship.

Operated by the

Oak Tree Homes Trust Charity.

For more information please call

01797 260589 or e-mail us at

oaktreehomestrust@gmail.com

& 6.00pm. Wednesday 7.15pm Ministry and Prayer (Zoom meeting). www.rec.wales

SWANSEA. Ebenezer Baptist Church, near High Street station. Sunday 11.00am & 6.00pm. Wednesday 7.30pm. Minister: Revd Graham John, tel: 07541 400559. www.ebenezer.org.uk

HOLIDAYS

ENGLAND

CORNWALL

NEWQUAY. Annex holiday let. Suit couple or small family. Near Porth beach. A friendly Christian welcome. E-mail: james_virgo@hotmail.com or tel: 07785 102054.

PADSTOW. Chalet, sleeps 6. Sea glimpses. Beaches nearby. £200-£450 weekly (including heating). Missionary discounts. Tel: 01202 253879/382598. E-mail: paulandruthbromley@gmail.comwww.atlanticbaysholidaypark.co.uk

Conty Durham

STAINDROP, County Durham. Two bedroom cottage, sleeps 3. From £295 week. Discounts for Christian workers. Sorry no pets or children under 10. Brochure available. E-mail: shiloahlad@gmail.com 07913 058520.

DERBYSHIRE

CROMFORD, MATLOCK. Historic cottage, 2 bedrooms, sleeps 6. Pets welcome. Good walking area. Tel: 07804 691736. www.tinsmithscottage.co.uk

DEVON

TOPSHAM. Two-bedroom cottage overlooking Exe estuary and hills. Shops, inns, restaurants close. Coast, moors, Exeter nearby. Tel: 02920 759314. E-mail: dee.jones@virgin.net

SUSSEX: EAST

HAILSHAM. S/c 1 bedroom stable con-version. Quiet country location. www.thestablehailsham.co.uk Tel: 01323 841227. E-mail: longleysfarmcottage@gmail.com

YORKSHIRE: EAST

FLAMBOROUGH, Bridlington. 3 bedroom cottage, sleeps 6. Pets welcome. Beach one mile. Tel: 07804 691736. www.coblecottageflamborough.co.uk

HOLIDAYS

OVERSEAS

GERMANY. Haus Barnabas in Black Forest. Holidays all year round. B&B or halfboard. Basel airport or railway pickups. Brochure: rosemaryedwards2009@talktalk.net Tel: 01227 363857. www. haus-barnabas-christianholidays.info

SPAIN. Altea (Costa Blanca). Two-bedroom/bathroom apartment. Pool, garden, tennis. Shops, restaurants, beach close. Warm winters. Airport transfers. Tel: 02920 759314. E-mail: dee.jones@virgin.net

SITUATIONS VACANT

I am a Christian saint seeking one of the Lord’s children to join me soon as a sister / brother on a remote small farm. This would either be in Scotland or the Pennines. Some money is provided to assist me if you want work, as I am disabled. My email is Eleunma@gmail.com.

Teddington Conference:

Protestant History

Dates:

Fri 6th & Sat 7th

October 2023

Venue:

CHRIST CHURCH,

Christchurch Avenue,

TEDDINGTON,

TW11 9AB

Cost: Free

Speakers:

Rev Dr Ian Desham,

Rt Rev Edward Malcolm,

Rt Rev Dominic Stockford Rev Dr Geoff Thomas

For the full title of each lecture and more details please visit :

https://christ-church.org/conference/

32 | Evangelical Times, September 2023

The extraordinary power of the spoken word

Features

Of all creatures on this planet, only humans have the ability to communicate through the spoken word. The power to use words is a unique and extraordinary gift from God.

We know from Scripture that God spoke the world into being by the power of his words (Hebrews 11:3). Making us in his image, God has also designed our words to have real power beyond just conveying information. Proverbs 18:21 says, ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue.’

One person who grasped this truth was Winston Churchill. In the dark days of 1940 when Britain stood alone against the Nazi regime, Churchill’s supreme achievement was to inspire the nation and infuse hope and self-belief almost entirely through the constructive power of his words.

He recognised that words are similar to seeds. By speaking them aloud, they are planted in our minds, growing and bearing fruit of the same kind.

Profound effect

Essentially, talk is verbalised thinking. What we say has a profound effect upon our feelings, actions, and accomplishments. Sports coaches often use this method to motivate their athletes to greater performances. But as the verse tells us, this principle has two sides: it works both positively and negatively. Consequently, this God-given gift carries with it an awesome responsibility.

The words tongue, mouth, lips, and words are mentioned in the book of Proverbs well over 100 times. The fact that so

much importance is placed on our words tells us we must take care of what comes out of our mouths.

In James 3:6 we learn that the tongue is an instrument of exceptional potency, out of all proportion to its size. As a small fire can destroy an entire forest, so it is with the tongue. A sharp word, a callous remark, can be equally catastrophic.

Ill-chosen words can cause spiritual arson – a conflagration that can destroy individuals and even churches. In this intensely practical book James continues to say, ‘Control your tongue and you will control the rest of your body.’

Indeed, the litmus test of a man’s spirituality is not his ability to speak, as we often think, but rather his ability to control his tongue. If anyone’s tongue is habitually out of control, though his church attendance be diligent and his biblical knowledge impressive, he is still foolish.

Satan’s work

This message reverberates throughout Scripture. Proverbs 13:3 says, ‘The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.’

Again, in Ephesians 4:29 Paul writes, ‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is

helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.’

The Greek word for ‘unwholesome’ means rotten or foul. While foul language has no place in a Christian’s life, there are other areas of the tongue that are equally toxic.

One such venom highlighted by James is criticism of each other. Fault-finding seems endemic in the Christian church today. God warns us over and over not to criticise, compare, or judge each other. When we criticise another believer, we are in a real sense interfering in God’s business. James 4:11 says, ‘Brothers, do not speak evil of one another.’

It’s sobering to realise that one of the sins mentioned in that awful catalogue listed in Romans 1:29-31, is that of criticising or injuring the reputation of others: ‘whisperers, backbiters’. Often, it’s the pastor and church leaders that receive the brunt of such attacks.

Let’s not forget the Bible calls Satan ‘the accuser of our brothers’. It’s the Devil’s job to blame and criticise members of God’s family. Any time we do so we are effectively doing Satan’s work for him. Remember that other Christians, no matter how much we disagree with them, are not the real enemy.

The 19th-century preacher Robert Murray M’Cheyne

resolved that when a fellow Christian’s name was mentioned in company, if he could not say anything good about him, he would refrain from saying anything. ‘Better that, surely, than to be careless with fire and destroy a brother for whom Christ died,’ he said.

Just how seriously God takes criticism of his children is recorded in Numbers 12 when Aaron and Miriam criticised Moses for marrying an Ethiopian woman. God smote Miriam with leprosy and Aaron was quick to repent: ‘We have done foolishly… we have sinned.’ Aaron was forgiven and Miriam’s health was restored, but the lesson was learnt.

Every careless word

The gravity of God’s attitude to what we say is given even more weight when we read that Jesus Christ said all of us will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word we have spoken (Matthew 12:36).

What a sobering thought. Every word that we speak is being listened to by the Lord and we will have to answer for it. Were they gracious or critical? Were they life-giving or life-destroying?

The poet William Norris wrote, If your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with care: To whom you speak,

By Billy Hill

Member of Charminster Chapel, Bournemouth.

of whom you speak, and how, and when, and where.

Scripture teaches that we can pray that God would enable us to control this powerful instrument. We can join with David who prayed, ‘Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips’ (Psalm 141:3).

David was asking God to guard his lips so that it became like a master switch. One commentator wrote, ‘If our tongue was so well under control that it refused to express the words of anger, criticism and resentment, then these things are cut down at source before they have a chance to live.’

In other words, by not speaking impulsively when we feel critical, the master switch has deprived this feeling of any power to develop verbally and cause spiritual arson.

But the answer also lies in what we put into our minds and hearts. Jesus said, ‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’ (Luke 6:45). Paul wrote in Colossians 3:16, ‘Let the word of God dwell in you richly.’

By filling our hearts with the great truths of God as found in Scripture, our heart will be filled with the promised God-given joy, peace, and strength which in turn will flow through to our tongue.

S0urce: Shutterstock