Ballintoy Church of Ireland’s Rev Patrick Barton making peace with Rome

Colossians 1:18-20: “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

Peace and reconciliation are two of the key buzzwords for ecumenists and apostates in our land.

After all, how could anyone be opposed to peace and reconciliation?

Of course, everyone wants to live in harmony with those around them.

However, these ecumenists who preach of peace and reconciliation do not preach of peace through Jesus Christ’s precious atoning blood, but rather a ‘peace’ of mean compromise with the pagan Church of Rome.

And such misappropriation of the term peace was prevalent in Ballintoy Parish Church last weekend.

That church, based on the north coast of Northern Ireland, played host to a meeting of the ‘Causeway Coast Peace Group’, and the preacher was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin.

Rome refuses to teach the simple, precious gospel message of “peace through the blood of his cross”, but rather theirs is a message of works.

With Rome, salvation is all doing, but with Jesus, salvation is all done.

And this is the central, principal tenet of the Bible, that Christ died on the cross a perfect atoning death that “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.

Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that salvation is not achieved by any good in us.

It says: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

However, despite the fact that Rome steadfastly refuses to preach the way to salvation, instead condemning its followers to the damnation of hell – and as Paul, under the inspiration of God, says in Galatians 1:9: “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” – so many so-called Protestant ministers cuddle up with the deceit of Rome, thereby giving credence to its lies.

And this was very evidently the case last weekend in Ballintoy Church of Ireland, whose minister is Rev Patrick Barton (pictured, below), who also holds the charge in Dunseverick and Rathlin Parish Churches (allowing him to do triple the damage!).

This individual is no stranger to ecumenical compromise, as a ‘Coleraine Times’ report online refers to him, along with a Romanist priest, a ‘Father’ Brian Daly, leading prayers at the ‘Blessing of the Boats’ service in nearby Ballycastle.

Given that Rome blasphemously teaches of prayer to Mary and saints, it is once more appropriate for us to ask to whom these prayers were addressed?

1 Timothy 2:5 says: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”.

The Causeway Coast Peace Group, according to its entry on the Charity Commission website, is “largely church based”, and among its stated goals is the “promotion of religious harmony”, making it an overtly ecumenical grouping.

It has regularly held meetings in the Roman Catholic chapel in Ballycastle, St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s, with the 2015 edition of its thanksgiving service having a retiring collection in aid of the Corrymeela Community, based in Ballycastle and the home of ecumenism in Ulster.

The 2017 thanksgiving service was also held in that Romish domain and Rev Patrick Barton was, of course, front and centre in this disgraceful sell-out to Rome.

He jointly held the service with his ecumenical chum, ‘Father’ Brian Daly, while the former Presbyterian Church moderator, Dr Frank Sellar (more like Sell-out) was also in attendance.

Attendees, following the conclusion of the service, were then shamefully invited to light a candle and place it on the pagan altar of Rome, all in the name of peace.

However, there can be no peace with Rome until Rome makes peace with God.

Anyone who says or acts contrary to this is as guilty as the prophets condemned by God in the days of Jeremiah.

It says in Jeremiah 6:13-15: “…and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.”

As we so often see in the Bible, when God pronounces his judgment, he also shows his mercy, but there is a fearful consequence for those who shun this offer of mercy.

That chapter goes on to say in verses 16-20: “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.”

The old paths were called the good way, yet today new ecumenical paths are being forged on a regular basis and they are dishonouring to God and the offerings being sent up by such as are involved in this departure from God’s Word “are not acceptable” unto God.

These old paths they refuse to tread or even countenance, instead, they go down crooked paths, which cannot bring peace.

Isaiah 59:8 says: “The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.”

Isaiah 48:22 says: “There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.”

Dear reader, do not seek after the “peace” of this world, but rather the peace that comes through the blood of the cross. Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin that we might be forgiven.

If you are as yet unsaved, would you ask yourself this question: How will you escape if you neglect so great salvation?

God’s offer of salvation is there for all to enjoy, but first you must confess your sins. If you do that, God is faithful and just to forgive you your sins (1 John 1:9).

That is the route to true peace.

Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”