Great is the Lord - it's His people who are the problem!

It was not my intention to publish a post this evening but, having read two items, I have decided to do so.

The first of those items is from a daily e-mail that I receive from The Institute for Christian Research. It points me to I Chronicles 16:25-26 (AV) - “For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.” 

The following text reads: "This testimony is in the heart of a great hymn of thanksgiving (1 Chronicles 16:7-36) composed by David when the Ark of the Lord was brought back to Jerusalem. It is a testimony of the unique greatness of the God of Israel, with recurring expressions of gratitude for His deliverances and blessings.

This God of Israel was no mere tribal-god or nature-god, such as Dagon, the fish-god of the Philistines from whose hands the Ark had been delivered. All such “gods” of the peoples of the earth—whether wooden images in a shrine, astrological emblems in the heavens, or mental constructs of evolutionary humanistic philosophers—are nothing but idols (that is, literally, “good for nothing,” “vanities”).

It is Jehovah God who is not only in the heavens but who made the heavens! It is their Creator who one day will “let the sea roar” and “the fields rejoice,” when “the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth” (vv. 32-33).

As Creator and Saviour, all His people are exhorted also to “shew forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations” (vv. 23-24). Because of His power, the world itself “shall be stable [that is, ‘permanently established’], that it be not moved” (v. 30). This “God of our salvation” (v. 35), and the wonderful heavens and earth He created, will be forever. The psalm ends with the exhortation: “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. . . . Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever” (vv. 34-36).

Now, if Israel needed such an exhortation, our modern science-worshiping world needs it still more urgently."

Just before I read those words, I read some words of Rev. Dr. Clifford Hill, of Prophecy Today (https://www.prophecytoday.uk/), a former clergyman in the Church of England. He is referring to the state of the British Parliament that was prorogued last night - but wrote these words on Sept.6th. In a longer article (recommended - "A Rebellious Generation"), he writes: "For 50 years this nation has been steadily eroding its biblical foundation that made it a great nation and what we now see in our dysfunctional, rebellious Parliament is the result. Both the Leader of the Opposition and our Prime Minister have been notorious rebels throughout their political careers. They now shout at each other across the despatch box, the world looking on with amazement to see the famous ‘Mother of Parliaments’ torn asunder by 650 rebels in utter disarray.

For the older generation who were brought up with biblical values of gentleness, respect and unselfishness – (God first, others second, self last) – it is simply excruciating to watch this generation of overgrown, unruly infants tearing the nation apart with their mindless behaviour. I can echo the words of the Prophet Ezekiel: “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people” (Ezek 12:2).

When everything goes wrong in the nation, the biblical principle is not to blame the politicians but to blame the religious leaders. Listen to this, also from Ezekiel: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves” (Ezek 34:10).

And from Jeremiah: “Among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: they commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his wickedness” (Jer 23:14).

As a senior churchman who has worked alongside the last four archbishops of Canterbury (Donald Coggan, Robert Runcie, George Carey and Rowan Williams), I have been a close observer of church leadership in the nation since the mid-1970s.

I saw at first-hand what a group of unbelieving bishops did when Donald Coggan made an impassioned ‘call to the nation’ to return to biblical values in 1975. They hounded him out of office, vowing that they would oppose any other Bible-believing evangelical getting into Lambeth Palace – hence the appointment of Robert Runcie, the most liberal Archbishop we have ever had, at a time of radical social change when the prophetic voice of the Church was desperately needed."

He continues: "Today we have a group of 25 Church of England bishops publishing a statement about Brexit that is full of political correctness but has no Gospel in it. It has no prophetic call to the nation to turn to God. In fact, there is no mention of God!!! No call to prayer, no call to ‘repentance’, no recognition of our departure from the word of the Lord which is why the nation is in such trouble!

The bishops reflect the same secular humanist, globalist spirit as the rest of the establishment who are defying the referendum and trying to keep Britain locked into the European Union.

If church leaders would only bother to read the Bible – the whole Bible, not just little bits of the New Testament – they would understand the nature of the spiritual battle that is raging across Britain and much of Europe today." (emphases in the original).

There is much more, but that may be sufficient. Last night's scenes in the House of Commons were surely, to any right-minded person, a total disgrace, and an affront to democracy. For a long time, I have been praying for our nation, and in my praying, asking that the Lord would raise up men and women of faith and integrity to replace, in every area of the secular realm, those in positions of power ,and authority, and influence - who are opposed to His will, and His Word. I pray, on a daily basis, for the government, that the Lord would use it to bring about His perfect will - yes, even for our relationship with the EU! However, I also pray that he would forgive the church - not any single denomination - for having failed, for so long, to be the prophetic voice to the nation that we are called to be.

I believe that what we are witnessing are clear signs that we are living in the "end-times". May those of us who claim to be disciples of the Lord Jesus, be faithful in our prayerful support of those in government. May we take every opportunity to "speak a word for Jesus" to a faithless, yet needy, population. May we be found "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 12:2).

Femininst votes against girls!

If Victor Meldrew was a real character, he would surely be uttering his famous catch-phrase: "I don't believe it!"

Yesterday, in the UK House of Commons, the Abortion (Sex-Selection) 10 Minute Rule Bill was debated and put to a vote.   This was a Bill, in the name of Fiona Bruce, MP, to make illegal abortion on the basis of the gender of the unborn child.  As was well publicised last evening, the 10 Minute Rule Bill was supported with a vote of 181 for and 1 against.  If I understand the situation correctly, this allows it to go forward to it's currently scheduled Second Reading in January.

However, many were asking that the one person who voted against the Bill be named (and shamed!).  I am happy to now be able to do so.  The one MP who voted, effectively, to allow the abortion of unborn females simply because they are female, was the well-known feminist, and former actress, Glenda Jackson.

Does Ms Jackson not see the irony of her situation?  Someone who would claim to have fought for the rights of women; who castigated the late Margaret Thatcher (after her death) for not having been feminist enough; is apparently happy to see little girls murdered in their mothers' wombs, simply because they have the potential only to become women!

Now, of course, it may be that, like Mrs Thatcher after the death of her beloved Denis (she was at least feminine enough to keep a husband for life - something that Glenda Jackson has patently failed to do!) Glenda Jackson is suffering from the early stages of dementia, and did not realise that she had walked through the 'wrong' lobby.  If that is the case, then she does have my sympathy - and my relief that she has already stated that she will not be standing at the next General Election, as she will then be 80 years of age.

However, if that is the case, perhaps she should just stand down now, and not allow herself another six months of 'wrong' decisions! 

It may be that I am totally misreading the situation, and I will be sending this post to Ms Jackson to enable her to respond, if she so wishes.  However, if I am correct in my analysis, then she came across, yesterday, as an arch-hypocrite in a gathering that is not short of them.

On a more general note, it is worth remembering that if our own mothers had had an abortion, we wouldn't be here!

"It's not over until it's over"

As I type this post, I am on a MegaBus coach travelling from London to Glasgow - after a few days in Amsterdam to celebrate a Silver Wedding Anniversary, and a Graduation in the Randag family in Bloemendaal.

Of course, in my absence, much has happened in the UK.  The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has voted to allow the ordination and induction of practising homosexuals.  This is a move that is designed, I understand, to please all sections of the Kirk - the "revisionists" and the "traditionalists"!  As in most such cases, it may end up pleasing no-one.  The question for many will now be, "For how long can I remain a part of what is rapidly becoming (some would claim, 'has already become') an apostate church?"  For what it's worth, they have my deepest sympathy.  I recall my own situation over the slightly less contentious matter of infant baptism.  I am one of those who may truly claim that "I know what you are going through"!

At the same time, the House of Commons has been debating in the Report Stage of the Marriage (same-sex couples) Bill.  A number of amendments were tabled but, as far as I can make out, all were defeated - even if the Prime Minister had to depend on the support of her Majesty's Opposition.  Even there, a number of Labour members (my own MP included) voted in support of at least one of the amendments, in principled defiance of the Party Whip.

Of course, the newspapers have been providing their usual headline, and article, commentaries.  I have read, on-line, "Gay marriage step closer as bill clears major hurdle" (The Independent); "... gay marriage, which is expected to clear a final Commons vote tonight, remains on track, and same-sex couples should be able to tie the knot as early as next summer." (The Metro);"... the marriage (same-sex couples) bill will now experience a safer journey through parliament." (The Observer).

Now, even although I have learned a lot about it, in recent months, I make no claim to be an expert in Parliamentary procedure.  However, even I know that, while it is likely that the Bill will be passed this evening, at its Third reading, it could well be with a reduced majority.  I know, too, that it then has to be laid before the House of Lords.  I am fully aware that all of the indications are that the Bill will face a much more difficult passage in the Upper House, and that it is by no means guaranteed to be passed there.  It is also my understanding that, because it was in neither the manifestos of the parties who are now so apparently keen to support it, nor in any Queen's Speech, the Parliament Act cannot be invoked.  This, for those who do not know, is a legislative procedure that ensures that the Lords are unable to totally defy the will of the Commons.  Certain newspaper opinion may yet prove to be wrong!  As the heading to this post states, "It's not over until it's over" - and it certainly isn't over yet!

One additional point.  Writing to his young friend, and son in the faith, Timothy, the apostle Paul warns that "... the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths." (II Tim 4:3-4).

"For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt. For land which has drunk the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned." explains the author of the Letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus. (6:4-8).

Could it be that the things that we see around us are the very signs that Jesus assured us would be visible for those with eyes to see - signs that Father God is about to wind up this dimension that we inhabit?

Certainly, as someone once said, if God does not come in judgement upon the world today, He would need to apologise to Sodom and Gomorrah!

"Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen." (Rev 22:20-21).

It's not over yet!

So, the House of Commons has voted to legalise same-sex marriage by a margin of 400 votes to 175.  Already the supporters of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill seem to think that the battle has, effectively, been won.  However, there is an old saying that, "It's not over until the fat lady sings" - and that stage has not yet been reached!  

As I understand it, the Bill now has to go through at least one Committee stage, during which amendments may be made.  It then has to go to the House of Lords - and the Upper House has the option of returning it to the House of Commons.  This is where things could get really interesting!  My understanding (again!) is that, because the issue was not in any of the Party manifestos; and because it was not in the Queen's Speech at the opening of the current Parliamentary session; the Parliamentary Act (1949) may not be invoked.  This Act curtailed the power of the House of Lords, and reduced the Lords' delaying power over legislation to one year, ensuring that it cannot, indefinitely, overturn decisions of the House of Commons.  If my understanding is correct, then the House of Lords may, in this specific situation, delay the passage of the Bill right up until the next General Election!  As that is more than two years away, who knows what will have happened in the intervening period?!

Of one thing I remain certain - that God is Sovereign!  He is also the Alpha and the Omega; the Beginning and the End.  He has not been phased by this decision.  From His vantage point of eternity - a dimension far beyond anything that we are capable of even imagining, let alone understanding - He sees all of created time simultaneously.  He already knows the final outcome of this attempt to redefine that which He instituted at the very beginning of time.  And, of course, He is working all things out in accordance with His ultimate will and purpose.

So we do not lose heart.  We work; we pray; we submit to the Father's will.  To Him be all the glory!