Pathetic Church of Ireland promote ‘LGBTI+ Awareness Week’

It really is difficult to imagine how much more useless the Church of Ireland can be, but they appear to have reached new heights (or plumbed new depths) of craven capitulation to the filthiness promoted by this wicked world.

The Belfast Newsletter reports that the Church of Ireland has promoted, on its social media pages, an event in one of its churches to celebrate “LGBTI+ Awareness Week”.

St Anne’s in Shandon in County Cork in the Republic of Ireland has long been at the forefront of this wicked rebellion against God, including receiving an ‘Allies for Inclusion’ award in 2019 for its determined work to promote and justify that which God Himself has called an “abomination” (Leviticus 18:22).

And the Church of Ireland is happily promoting this new wickedness on its social media channels, with this post from Twitter (pictured below) from 19 May clearly demonstrating such folly.

The Church of Ireland rector promoting that which God’s Word clearly decries as “vile”, “against nature” and “unseemly” (Romans 1:26-27) is Rev Paul Robinson, a former Church of England rector now keen to promote his utter rejection of God’s Word in a new country. How incredibly kind of him.

Of course, he is only continuing the wickedness which he inherited at St Anne’s in Shandon as the aforementioned ‘Allies for Inclusion’ award pre-dates his appointment.

He is merely as the dauber alluded to in Ezekiel 13:10-16, adding on to the wicked work of that builder before him.

However, that makes his judgment and condemnation no less fearsome. Ezekiel 13:15: “Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it”.

Rev Paul Robinson is quoted in the Church of Ireland website article as saying “we are delighted to be able to play our part in Cork LGBTI+ Awareness Week”.

His delight is not in the Lord, as it ought to be, but in openly and brazenly defying Him. That is very instructive.

As is often the case with such characters, he does not limit his God defiance to just one area, openly promoting the blasphemous Romanist practice of Mariolatry, as another article on the Church of Ireland website at the time of his appointment in Cork states he has previously “contributed to a number of youth pilgrimages run at Walsingham in Norfolk”. You can read a little of the history of that God-defying site here.

The other character pictured in the gleeful exhibition of disobedience to God proudly promoted at St Anne’s, Shandon is an individual called Stephen Spillane.

He is listed as being a “political activist” in the Newsletter article, though on Twitter (where in his profile bio he calls himself a “political campaigner”) he has expressed his disappointment at not being named as holding the position he does at St Anne’s, Shandon.

Stephen Spillane, who describes himself oxymoronically as “Faithfully LGBT”, is a churchwarden in St Anne’s, meaning he holds elected office within the Church of Ireland.

More than that, he is actually a member of the overall authority of the Church of Ireland, the General Synod.

That means that man flagrantly rejecting God’s Word has a vote in how the overall Church of Ireland is run.

And if you or your loved one has so far failed to separate from the Church of Ireland, that means he has a say over YOU.

He seems pretty proud of that fact as, discussing the Newsletter article on Twitter, he says: “Wait till they find out I’m on General Synod!”

Well we have been able to share this little nugget of information for him, hopefully that makes him feel a bit better.

What might not make him feel better is what the Bible has to say about the qualifications required for such a role, which is roughly equivalent to that of a committee member or deacon in other denominations.

1 Timothy 3:8-13 says: “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

That word “grave” can also be rendered “reverent”, yet it is hard to imagine anything less reverent than the collection of “abominations” being promoted by this man in the church.

How, too, can the mystery of the faith be held “in a pure conscience” by an individual promoting that which God has called an “abomination” and identifying themselves as among those people the Bible says “shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

And then we are told the deacons ought to be “husbands of one wife”. If someone is a homosexual, they simply cannot be the husband of one wife and are therefore categorically outside the will of the Lord.

May God have mercy on us as we see our land descend into such wickedness.

For their part, the Church of Ireland did their best impression of Pontius Pilate and washed their hands of responsibility for promoting such wickedness.

The Church of Ireland press office is quoted in the Newsletter article saying: “The story in relation to the service at St Anne’s, Shandon, was shared as an item of diocesan news from the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, as has been the case in previous years, in the same way as news is shared from all dioceses on our social media channels.”

Just as it did nothing to avail Pontius Pilate, such equivocation will be of little benefit to those responsible.

Dear reader, the professing church is falling at an alarming rate and this promotion of wickedness and its toleration, indeed promotion by the Church of Ireland centrally is but a further symptom of the deep, long-standing malaise in that denomination.

They are so busy trying to promote “LGBTI+ Awareness Week”, all the while utterly and determinedly ignoring raising awareness of the plight of sinners, including those poor deluded “LGBTI+” people,  and the dreadful fate that awaits all those who reject Christ in that awful place called hell.

Acts 4:12 tells us we need to be saved. It says: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

That name is the name of Christ and we are told in God’s Word that those who come to Him He will in “no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

However, in promoting such wickedness, churches such as St Anne’s in Shandon are enlarging the wedge that exists between the ungodly and a righteous God.

Whoever you may be reading this, please don’t turn your nose up and dismiss this as some sort of prejudice or bigotry, but rather look at God’s Word and see this is the simple teaching of the Bible and, regardless of your background or circumstances, turn to God as a humble, penitent sinner and cry to Him for forgiveness from your sins.

If you do just that, then God will hear you and answer your prayer for time and for all eternity.

1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Church of Ireland sit by as their minister leads sodomite ‘Pride’ parade

Isaiah 56:10: “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.”

Two recurring themes within the Church of Ireland is its deafening silence on issues which should appal any true child of God and its utter inactivity when presented with a minister who openly defies God.

Both of these matters came sharply into focus recently with the sad case of Rev Andrew Rawding, one of its ministers in County Tyrone.

His apostate actions in leading a procession in celebration of sodomite ‘Pride’ are frankly outrageous, but the Church of Ireland steadfastly refuses to do anything about it.

A number of weeks have passed since Rev Andrew Rawding’s outrageous act of rebellion against his church’s teaching and, most importantly, against God and His Word.

However, still there has been no response or action taken in relation to his shameful behaviour, as they remain silent in the face of grave, brazen sin.

As a quick reminder, Rev Andrew Rawding led a sodomite ‘Pride’ parade through Cookstown in County Tyrone last month in a celebration of that which God calls an “abomination” (Leviticus 18:22).

The parade had originally been due to be held in June, but the Covid lockdown saw it rearranged to September.

Despite it being clear that mass gatherings would still not be permitted come September, the organisers, Mid Ulster Pride, were so determined to go on in their sin, they organised a parade anyway, with 15 people (with Rev Andrew Rawding very much to the fore) carrying placards in support of their ungodly cause  through the town centre on a Saturday afternoon.

Praise God there was a protest mounted against this wickedness, but sadly not so much as a squeak of opposition from Rev Andrew Rawding’s denomination, the Church of Ireland.

In the weeks that have passed since his outrageous, God-defying actions, there has been nothing said by the Church of Ireland’s Diocese of Armagh against it, nor has there been a word said by the Church of Ireland body as a whole, nor, to the best of our knowledge, has a single Church of Ireland minister made a public statement to repudiate Rev Andrew Rawding’s actions.

The Church of Ireland Diocese of Armagh has been able to publish a number of statements on their website in the meantime, including an article headlined ‘Letter from UK Anglican Primates on Internal Market Bill’, because the likes of Archbishop Right Eejit John McDowell’s views on the EU are sure to make a huge difference.

There was also a fascinating and, no doubt much valued statement thanking teachers for, well, teaching. Inspirational stuff.

But there is nothing about one of its ministers supporting dreadful wickedness, they are but dumb dogs slumbering, as the verse at the top of this article states.

What use is a watchman that does not watch and what use is a guard dog that does not bark?

The Diocese of Armagh has a duty of spiritual care to its members and parishioners and, indeed, to its ministers like Rev Andrew Rawding.

This is a man so clearly in error as he stands up to promote grave sin, yet the Church of Ireland is making no effort to correct him.

Last year, when asked by the Belfast Newsletter if they planned to do anything about his brazen defiance of God’s Word, this is what the report regarding their response said:

“The spokesman said that church teaching is agreed in a “democratic” process; Many clergy and laity disagree with church teaching “and may continue to hold their point of view, but it will not be the official position of the Church”.”

The Church of Ireland is perfectly content for Rev Andrew Rawding to continue to promote that which God calls an “abomination” (Leviticus 18:22) and “vile”, “against nature” and “unseemly” (Romans 1:26-27).

Yet surely if they have a love for his soul and a love for the souls of the people over whom he has spiritual authority, they would want to sound a warning?

Alas, no, they are too busy speaking into the air on Brexit and offering pointless words of praise to teachers in bland statements.

Sadly these dumb dogs are far too prevalent in church hierarchies today, not just in the Church of Ireland.

May God save us from such dumb dogs and rather give us dogs that bark in this wicked day and generation.

May we even be blessed with a generation of religious leaders who are as those in Daniel 11:32, who “do know their God”.

Let them “be strong, and do exploits”, not be weak, and do nothing.

Israel Folau given his livelihood back despite efforts of Bible haters – but at what price?

1 Corinthians 6:9-11: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

The enemies of God came out in force last year to make sure that a man widely considered one of the greatest rugby players in the world, Israel Folau, would lose his job simply for taking a stand for God.

Israel Folau was seen as the star of the Australian rugby union international side which was preparing for last autumn’s World Cup and a major star in the Australian league.

However, as far as the utterly illiberal so-called “liberals” were concerned, there was a major problem – Israel Folau is a professing Christian.

And worse still, he wasn’t shy about stating it.

And even worse again, he wasn’t shy about condemning the ultimate fashionable sin of the age – sodomy.

No doubt all readers will have had to reach for the smelling salts to revive themselves after having been confronted with such a ghastly report of such a ghastly individual as someone who would dare to challenge the ultra-trendy anti-God brigade’s sacred cow of sodomy.

Imagine somebody not falling down before the secular deity of this age – the sodomite.

Of course, Israel Folau’s crime was to echo the words of 1 Corinthians 6 reproduced above in an Instagram post, which you can see pictured at the top of this article.

Amid the contrived furore surrounding Israel Folau’s online post, he was sacked by Rugby Australia and found himself unemployed.

He then took legal action against Rugby Australia, and just last month he received an undisclosed payout and apology. He was still sacked, though.

But now this month he has switched code to rugby league and will play for Super League side Catalans Dragons, based in France.

Cue more outrage from those who despise the setting forth of God’s Word.

A BBC report on Folau’s latest move from a Dave Woods, who is apparently a BBC rugby league correspondent, states that “the whole game is appalled by Catalans’ decision to sign Israel Folau”.

He continued: “It’s fair to say he will not be welcome at any domestic Super League grounds.

“Wigan’s immediate reaction to declare that their home game against Catalans will now be a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community is a reflection of the sentiments of every other Super League club.

“It’s rare to see such a united front from both the Super League and RFL in their condemnation of this signing.”

If Dave Woods’ comments are accurate, it is a very sad reflection on British society that they would be so opposed to someone even being able to make a living while holding the views he does.

It is ok apparently to speak out in favour of that which God has cursed, but how dare anyone stand up and say they agree with the Bible.

Persecution is on its way in the UK, dear Christian.

While it is pleasing that a club was willing to employ Israel Folau, it is sad to see the comments by him and others on signing this deal.

The BBC reports that “Super League chief executive chairman Robert Elstone said “strict guidelines are in place” to avoid Folau again making such comments and warned that a repeat would see the player’s contract being “terminated immediately”. Catalans also face a “substantial fine” if Folau was to do so.”

For his part, Israel Folau said: “I’m a proud Christian, my beliefs are personal, my intention is not to hurt anyone and I will not be making further public comment about them.”

So they have come to a truce, Israel Folau doesn’t say he’s a Christian or share his beliefs and the rugby authorities let him get on with it.

Ironically, it’s rather like the old approach formerly taken by the American armed forces towards homosexual recruits of “don’t ask, don’t tell”.

That is now, of course, considered just a dreadfully awful thing by the Bible-rejecters, who think it such a terrible thing that these individuals’ sins were not celebrated.

But Israel Folau has compromised himself by publicly stating he will cease to declare that homosexuality is a sin.

That is a sad thing.

As we have previously said, we would have concerns over the church Israel Folau is connected with, but have commended him for his refusal to kowtow to the extreme pressure placed upon him to renounce his views.

Acknowledging that pressure, we will not be overly critical of him for giving in to some extent but it is sad that he has taken this approach.

However, what we can learn from this whole episode is that the world at large is no friend of the child of God and we must ever look to Him for our comfort in this world.

Hebrews 13:13-14: “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.”

Bible comes second to popular opinion – new Archbishop of York

Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

Malachi 3:6: “For I am the LORD, I change not”.

Matthew 24:35: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

Among God’s innumerable wonderful characteristics, there is His immutability.

That is, God does not change, He is, as the first verse referenced at the top of this article states, “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever”.

God’s Word is eternally unchangeable too, even as Jesus attested in one of the verses above.

This is reinforced in the final book of the Bible.

Revelation 22:18-19 says: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Yet so many so-called Christian clerics seem to think they know better than God and His inspired Word.

And now we have witnessed such a man taking up the second highest position in the Church of England.

Stephen Cottrell (pictured, top) has been appointed as the new Archbishop of York, replacing the soon to be retiring John Sentamu.

And he has nailed his colours to the mast in favour of sodomy and against God and His Word.

The soon-to-be Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, who is currently merely a plain old bishop in the Chelmsford Diocese, in 2017, in an address to leaders in that diocese, stated his belief that biblical teaching on sexuality should be secondary to 21st century western beliefs.

The Christian Institute reported his despicable comments in an article on their website.

An extract from their article states: “While Bishop Cottrell did acknowledge biblical passages spoke about the issue, he said they were merely ‘part of our story and our inheritance’.

“‘But what we can do is recognise that what we know now about human development and human sexuality requires us to look again at those texts to see what they are actually saying to our situation, for what we know now is not what was known then.”

“The future Archbishop also said there was ‘no reason’ why thanksgiving prayers or a communion service could not be offered for civil partnerships.”

What a sorry state of affairs this is.

Bishop Stephen Cottrell is supposed to be proclaiming God’s truth, not attempt to subvert it or diminish it.

What is the point of Bishop Stephen Cottrell as a minister when he doesn’t even believe the Bible is relevant? He can’t consider it relevant if modern notions and fancies are superior, in his eyes, to the Word of God.

Ephesians 4:14 warns us not to be swayed by the notions of men and hints at the type of character who attempts to change church teaching even when it is at complete odds with what God has revealed to His people in His Word.

That verse says: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”.

Bishop Stephen Cottrell is one of those lying in wait to deceive and any who falls for what he says in this most grave matter are sadly deceived.

Apparently Bishop Stephen Cottrell has acknowledged the Bible does speak of homosexuality, though he doesn’t appear keen to dwell on it as it doesn’t fit his world view.

In spite of this, we will remind him once again what the Bible has to say.

Leviticus 18:22: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

Jude 1:7: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

Romans 1:26-27: “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”

This is but a brief snapshot of the consistent condemnation of same-sex relationships in Scripture.

Bishop Stephen Cottrell calls them simply “part of our story and inheritance” – what does that even mean?

They are clear warnings from God, that is what they are, and Bishop Stephen Cottrell is refusing to hear those warnings and refusing to repeat them.

Indeed, he is going a step further to say they don’t apply.

Dear reader, please do not carried about with every wind of doctrine, as so many are today, by the sleight of men like Bishop Stephen Cottrell.

Rather, let us hold fast to God and His Word, never wavering in our battle for Him.

Presbyterian quitter Lord Alderdice admits he’s joined Christ denying, transgender festival celebrating church

1 John 4:2-3: “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

Former Alliance Party leader and Presbyterian Church elder Lord John Alderdice (pictured, top) has revealed he has joined a Unitarian church which just a few months ago played host to a festival celebrating the utterly godless notion of transgenderism.

Lord Alderdice left the Presbyterian Church in response to the church barring openly practising sodomites full communicant membership and prohibiting the baptising of children in the care of same-sex couples.

Given the Presbyterian Church, by its own supposedly governing principles, the Westminster Confession of Faith, believes in the union of one man and one woman, it is hard to fathom how such a character as Lord Alderdice came to be an elder in the church, and indeed for some 30 years.

Speaking in the latest in the series of interviews in the Belfast Telegraph with veteran ecumenist Alf McCreary, Lord Alderdice revealed he had joined First Belfast Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church after leaving the Presbyterian Church.

He said: “For many years I had been unhappy about the direction of travel of the denomination and the decisions of the General Assembly in June 2018 were a ‘rubicon’ for me.

“I joined First Belfast Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church and attended there until we moved to England, though I still maintain my membership of First Belfast and attend from time to time when I am back in Belfast.”

This is the same church which hosted the ‘Trans Pride NI’ festival back in May, something which we highlighted and you can read about by clicking here.

Such an action really constitutes a shocking level of apostasy.

The Bible clearly outlines that the foundational principle of this world is that of male and female.

Genesis 1:27 says: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Deuteronomy 22:5 says: “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.”

To go against that is to go against God and to say He made a mistake when He created us.

And we can say assuredly and with joy in our hearts that “God is not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

The ‘Trans Pride NI’ festival which this church hosted featured several talks on “trans themes” while there was also a “Trans Information Exchange, featuring stands staffed by the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland), Unite the Union, Queerspace, Trans Pride NI, the civil service and the Department for Communities.”

There was also a “discussion on ‘Transphobia and Religion’” which featured speakers from the Humanist Association of Northern Ireland and a David Kerr, who is apparently a lay preacher at First Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church.

This is no surprise, however, as the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church, by its very nature of being Unitarian, is in fact not a Christian church.

It is not a Christian church because it outright denies the deity of Jesus Christ, saying he is not the Son of God, despite the fact the Bible repeatedly says He is.

Matthew 17:4-5 says: “Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

Mark 1:9-11: “And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

On two separate occasions, God spoke from heaven and called Jesus Christ His Son.

Indeed, the most famous verse in all of Scripture clearly proves Jesus was the Son of God.

John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

How anyone can form any type of ministry by ignoring this clear, crucial doctrine, is hard to fathom.

And the same can be said of how Lord Alderdice can possibly think it appropriate to join a church which denies Jesus is the Son of God.

To deny he is the Son of God is to deny the very essence of the gospel and this is what Lord Alderdice has done by formally joining First Belfast Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church.

We will remind Lord Alderdice of the Westminster Confession of Faith, which he vowed he believed and promised to uphold at his installation as an elder.

It says in Chapter 2, Paragraph 3: “In the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons of one substance, power and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.”

To join as a member of a church that denies this fundamental tenet of Christianity is a shameful act.

And doing so certainly causes it to appear that Lord Alderdice cares more for his own notions and ideas than the doctrines clearly laid down by God in His Word.

In the same interview with Alf McCreary, Lord Alderdice stated he was glad that his late father, who was a Presbyterian minister, “had not lived to see what had become of the church that he had loved and to which he had devoted his life”.

Certainly any minister should be grieved to see the condition in which the Presbyterian Church is today, but that ought to be because of its apostasy.

This can be seen in its acceptance of female ministers (prohibited clearly in 1 Timothy 2:12), its toleration of characters such as the crowd-surfer and “LGBT Christian” endorser Rev John Dickinson (pictured, above), Novena Mass preacher ‘Rev’ Cheryl Meban (pictured, below, preaching at the Romanist Mass) and many others and indeed the very fact there is even a dispute over whether full communicant membership should be available to openly practising sodomites.

However, the church voting to bar communicant membership to openly practising sodomites, a lifestyle choice clearly and unequivocally condemned in the Bible, is certainly not something over which to be grieved.

Whether Lord Alderdice’s late father truly would have been distressed to see membership being barred to openly practising sodomites is a moot point as he is not here to outline his position.

But certainly what is clear is that Lord Alderdice has utterly overthrown the Word of God, refusing to be bound by its precepts.

And, as such, we will repeat what we said last year when Lord Alderdice announced his resignation from the Presbyterian Church – he will be no loss to it and indeed the Presbyterian Church can only benefit from having characters such as him firmly out of any position of responsibility.

Let’s hope and pray that all those like him will similarly be dispensed of by the Presbyterian Church.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Rev John Dickinson: Presbyterian Church should say sorry for barring full membership to sodomites

Rev John Dickinson, minister of Carnmoney Presbyterian Church in the greater north Belfast area, has further demonstrated his alignment with the LGBT agenda by claiming the Presbyterian Church should apologise for its decision last year to block sodomites from becoming full communicant members.

This is the same man who, last year, endorsed the utterly ungodly stance of so-called ‘gay Christian’, Vicky Beeching, a former leading light in the Contemporary Christian Music scene, and expressed his excitement at reading her unambiguously titled book, ‘Undivided: Coming Out, Becoming Whole, And Living Free From Shame’.

And, speaking at the Presbyterian Church’s General Assembly earlier this month, John Dickinson stated that there are “quite a few” in his church who are either sodomites themselves, or whose family members are sodomites.

And he says they found it “devastating” that the Presbyterian Church should seek to prohibit sodomites from full communicant membership and children in the care of two homosexuals being baptised.

He stated that the Presbyterian Church should be apologising for these decisions.

A report was brought to the General Assembly by the General Council and was discussed on the first full day of the Assembly, the Tuesday.

Rev Dr Alastair Dunlop, a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, is the convener of the Implementation Task Group set up last year to look at how best to implement the so-called “controversial” decisions made last year.

One would have thought it was fairly simple but the weakness of this once great denomination shone through again as they try now to backtrack or at least put a nice, world-pleasing gloss on these rather mild measures introduced last year.

We described it last year as the Presbyterian Church ambling a yard back down the road of apostasy it has travelled when it needs to run a marathon, and that remains our view.

Speaking at the General Assembly, Rev Dr Alastair Dunlop referred to a meeting a month or so earlier he and the other members of the task group had held with someone who identifies as a “gay Christian” and two other individuals who are parents of people who identify as “gay Christians”.

He said: “I couldn’t help but be impressed by the honesty and courage of all three as they bared their souls and expressed the frustrations and tensions they feel about the church’s approach to this subject.

“If we have any fellow feeling at all, we surely must pay more attention to the angst that some of our fellow Christians go through.”

Where is the courage in seeking the church to accept and bless their sinful notions or lifestyle or that of their children?

A “gay Christian” is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms.

When we are saved there is a dramatic change in our condition and in our outlook.

2 Corinthians 5:17 clearly demonstrates this. It says: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Do we continue to identify with any other type of sin after we are saved? Who would brag of being an adulterer Christian, a fornicating Christian, a liar Christian, a thieving Christian, a murdering Christian?

It is self-evidently ludicrous, yet why does this sin of sodomy look for special status and why are church leaders seeking to afford it special status?

It surely has something to do with the fact that sodomy is the fashionable sin of the age and is very much de rigueur. One must not find themselves on the wrong side of the current trend, after all. How frightfully embarrassing that would be!

Their cry and reassurance to all present at the General Assembly ought to have been that of 1 John 3:13: “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”

However, this is an apostate church and Rev Dr (Ig)Noble McNeely (pictured, below – see his Popish pandering here), in introducing this report of the General Council to the General Assembly which Rev Dr Alastair Dunlop seconded, brought with him a dossier of newspaper clippings to highlight the negative coverage the Presbyterian Church received last year.

Apparently it was just terrible that the ungodly world was critical of their taking a (very mild) stance against sodomy.

They should have taken it as an encouragement and ignored the flailing and squawking of the ungodly world around them, not as a prompt to backtrack.

Rev Dr Alastair Dunlop then said the church ought to be a loving community, which of course is a fairly uncontentious point, but it is certainly not love to refuse to point out sin where we see it.

And, having made the point about the loving community, he said: “Our public discourse, whether from the pulpit or on social media, in Presbytery or here in General Assembly, must reflect these values in tone and language.”

It would certainly appear that Rev Dr Alastair Dunlop is warning ministers against speaking out on the matter of sodomy.

We will remind Rev Dr Alastair Dunlop what the Bible has to say on the matter.

2 Timothy 4:2: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Those first three words are enough – “preach the word”.

God’s Word teaches us that sodomy is wrong.

This is something we have been obliged to point out on so many occasions but we believe it vital to consistently repeat it.

The words of Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, demonstrate this when he writes in Philippians 3:1: “To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.”

Every time another church leader or public figure tries to say sodomy is ok or tries to lessen it as an offence against God in His eyes, we will, with God’s help and in His will, repeat the Bible’s cry against such unrighteousness.

Leviticus 18:22 calls homosexuality an “abomination” and describes it as “vile” and “against nature” in Romans 1:26.

The wrath of God is further revealed against sodomy in 1 Corinthians 6:9 when it is stated that the “effeminate” and “abusers of themselves with mankind” will “not inherit the kingdom of God”.

But Rev Dr Alastair Dunlop certainly appears to be warning against denouncing it as a sin.

And the fact his comments were then welcomed by the crowd surfer and “LGBT Christian” endorser Rev John Dickinson, would certainly lead you to assume that’s what he took from it as well.

Speaking at the General Assembly, crowd-surfing cleric Rev John Dickinson said: “I want to welcome what Alastair Dunlop said. Some of the people whom Alastair referred to who he met at that meeting he was at are members of my congregation.

“What the General Assembly did last year came as, quote, it’s not my words, their words, a hammer blow.

“It came as devastating to people who had been Presbyterian all their lives, raised their families through Sunday School, Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade, Youth Fellowship, Christian Endeavour, to adulthood and always thought that there would be a place for them in the life of the church.

“Suddenly to discover that because their son was gay or their daughter was lesbian that might now no longer be the case has been totally devastating to families and individuals.

“And whilst it is really, really… and I am convinced, I only know the numbers that come to my congregation, there are quite a few of them but I am convinced there are hundreds and hundreds of these people throughout our church.

“Whilst it is really, really good that this report reflects on how some of our officers went above and beyond the call of duty, it would have been helpful if the report had have also said sorry to those whom we so deeply hurt.”

This is a truly shocking statement for a minister who professes to be claiming the truth of God’s Word to make.

Rev John Dickinson is clearly stating that it is wrong for the Presbyterian Church to prevent sodomites from being full communicant members of the church.

He is also clearly recording his view that it is wrong to prevent children in the care of sodomites from being baptised by the church.

However, what is wrong is allowing the church to give its endorsement to same sex relationships by giving its blessing to children being in the care of those in such partnerships.

As already referenced above, it is clearly identified in God’s Word that sodomites cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

If someone identifies with the sin which brought God’s judgment down on Sodom and Gomorrah, then they are forbidden from entering heaven.

However, we are told there is salvation available to the sodomite, but it requires a turning away from such unnatural desires.

1 Corinthians 6:11 says: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

Sodomites were saved in Corinth and their sinful actions were now behind them, they were no longer associating with that sin because they were saved.

Communicant membership is for those who are saved.

1 Corinthians 11:27 points this out. It says: “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”

The Communion table is for those who are saved and those openly identifying as a sodomite cannot also be a true child of God and cannot truly serve God.

Whether it is as a minister or as an elder, a children’s worker or in the recording studio of a church, such service in the church is for those who are saved and walking with the Lord.

You cannot be walking with the Lord if you are living in a relationship which God has cursed.

This curse is further demonstrated in Jude v 7, which says: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

Rev John Dickinson is recording it publicly that there are people identifying as “gay Christians” in his church.

What does he say to them about this?

Does he tell them it’s ok? Does he condone any relationships they engage in? Does he allow them to partake of the Lord’s table?

Has Rev John Dickinson abided by the resolution of the church last year? He says there are “members of my congregation” who are “gay Christians”. Has he taken them from the membership roll? Has he carried out any baptisms of children who may be in the care of some of these “quite a few” homosexuals in his congregation? Would he do so?

It would perhaps help to explain the outcry last year when we dared to highlight the ungodliness of Rev John Dickinson’s endorsing of Vicky Beeching as members of his congregation united to attack this page.

If sodomy is something that is openly catered for within the pews and allowed to be considered an appropriate part of the church, that could well be part of the reason why our previous speaking out against Rev John Dickinson prompted such a backlash.

However, the situation remains the same.

Just because the guy in the pulpit says something, it doesn’t make it right and it doesn’t mean it is something which God said.

Rev John Dickinson says the church should say sorry for taking (mild and inadequate) steps to limit the level of influence of sodomy in the church.

God says sodomy is an “abomination”, “vile” and “against nature” and such will “not inherit the kingdom of God”.

On whose side are you?

We trust that everyone reading this will line up with the Almighty God of heaven, the One Who created all things and the One Who is the architect of our salvation, rather than line up with any minister who seeks to deny or twist God’s Word.

Let us even have the same resolve and spirit as Joshua did, which he expressed in Joshua 24:15: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Methodist Church report claims God is calling them to hold ‘gay marriages’

Romans 1:28-32: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

It is a sad sign of the truly apostate, godless age in which we have been called by God to live that churches are moving towards supporting the holding of same sex ‘marriages’.

The Quakers in Ireland last year ratified the holding of ‘marriages’ between two people of the same gender, despite the Bible calling such relationships an “abomination” (Leviticus 18:22), with the first such ‘union’ taking place in the Republic of Ireland earlier this year. This followed on from the Quakers in England supporting it a few years ago.

By the mercy of God, same sex ‘marriage’ remains illegal in Northern Ireland, so such moves by the Quakers have no effect here as yet.

The Church of Ireland, at its General Synod in 2017, narrowly rejected a motion to request public services of thanksgiving for same-sex relationships, with 176 against, 146 in favour and 24 abstaining.

The direction of travel is concerning to any true believer, and it is against this backdrop of apostasy that we see a report being brought to the Methodist Church in Britain’s Conference, running from 27 June to 4 July, which will support same sex marriage within the Methodist Church.

This abominable report has been brought by the Methodist Church’s ‘Marriage and Relationships Task Force’.

The Chair of the group is Rev Ken Howcroft (pictured, top), while other members we have been able to identify are Rev Ashley Cooper and ‘Rev’ Naomi Cooke (1 Timothy 2:12).

The 67 page report, which you can access yourself by clicking here, is Biblically illiterate, to put it generously. It is clearly written from a position of outright support for the introduction of sodomite ‘marriage’, with truly pathetic arguments proffered in favour of this outrageous abandonment of God’s Word.

Indeed they have the brass neck on them to claim that to hold sodomite ‘marriages’ in Methodist Churches is what God would want!

What rank apostasy this is.

This is the conclusion of the sorry, God-defying report.

It says: “We believe that, in awe and humility, the Methodist Church needs to recognise that it is being called by God to take the next steps in the development of its understanding of relationships and marriage. Those steps include enabling people of the same sex to commit themselves to each other in Christian marriage services.

“There is a strong case that, if marriage is what the Methodist Church says it is, and is as wonderful as it says it is, this Church cannot remain true to the God of justice and love by continuing to deny it to those same-sex couples who desire it so deeply.

“In recommending this move, the Task Group believes that we are responding to the promptings of the Spirit in the light of the gospel values and the trajectories of development that are recorded in the Scriptures overall. We believe that in taking this step, the Methodist Church will be being both scriptural and faithful.”

These individuals have the audacity to say they are “being called by God” to sanction the ‘marriage’ of individuals whose actions are described by God as “an abomination”.

They say they “cannot remain true” to God if they don’t do that and they are “responding to the prompting of the Spirit”.

What “Spirit” are they referring to? It is certainly not the Holy Spirit.

Indeed, to invoke His name is surely to be at grave risk of grieving the Holy Spirit, something we are told in Scripture will not be forgiven.

Mark 3:28-29 says: “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation”.

What a frightening risk to take with their souls.

The report also claims they are being “scriptural and faithful” in legislating for that which God has cursed.

What sorry, deluded people they are.

Within the report, they have rejected numerous Scripture proofs used to clearly demonstrate that sodomy is a sin cursed by God.

These include the following passages.

Leviticus 18:22: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

Leviticus 20:13: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination”.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

1 Timothy 1:9-10: “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine”.

Romans 1:26-27: “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”

They really are very clear yet these clerical compromisers strive to twist, contort, distort and obscure the Bible in such a way as to overthrow these clear passages and cast doubt over the integrity of God’s Word.

And it is all to meet their own sordid end of facilitating that which God calls an “abomination” in their church, and having the temerity to claim it is done with God’s seal of approval.

We can only pray that God will open their blinded eyes and forgive them of their wicked sin.

To go into all the detail of the pathetic, abominable rejection of Scripture carried out in this report in relation to the passages above would take too long, but we will address some of it.

It is quite clear there are wilful omissions of further Bible passages which pour even more cement on the iron-clad certainty of the point that God has cursed sodomy.

They proffer the pathetic argument that God destroyed Sodom due to the inhospitality shown to the angels of the Lord who visited Lot. We’re not sure what you think, dear reader, but we would describe attempted sodomite gang rape as being rather worse than inhospitable!

Indeed, they conveniently neglect to mention this passage from Jude v 6-7, which says: “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

Eternal fire fell upon Sodom and Gomorrah for “going after strange flesh”. Perhaps the Methodist Task Group missed that.

They overthrow everything contained within the Levitical law, dribbling that “it is hard to pick out some of them as still binding and dispense with the others”.

The very verse after the Leviticus 18:22 prohibition of sodomy puts a ban on bestiality. Do we dispense with that too? What a pathetic argument.

And the old chestnut about temple worship is used to wish away Romans 1:26-27.

Anyone seen those words or a reference to that in this passage? Nope, us neither.

They spew out this: “Paul may be thinking of ritual prostitution and excessive sexual acts committed in connection with pagan cults and temples”.

Where does this come from? The passage says that homosexual acts of any kind are “vile affections”. It doesn’t say they are vile when connected to idolatrous practices, it is a blanket term for same-sex acts.

The document also singularly fails to point out that God created a woman for Adam and ordained the union of man and woman.

Genesis 2:24: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

This was reinforced by Jesus, who said in Matthew 19:4-5: “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?”

This is but a very small snapshot of the Biblical ignorance and indeed Biblical rejection of each of the individuals involved in compiling this report.

Each one of them ought to be ashamed of themselves.

The report will be brought to the Methodist Conference and, if accepted, will be “submitted to the wider church for consultation during 2019-2020, with a final decision being made at the 2020 Conference”.

As a response to this shameful move by the Methodist Church, which would apply in England, Scotland and Wales but not in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, a grouping called Methodist Evangelicals Together called for a day of prayer and fasting, to be held on Friday past.

If they are true evangelicals, it is hard to imagine what they are still doing in a denomination which is even considering such a God-defying move, but they are at least to be commended for sticking their head above the parapet against the in vogue sin of the age – sodomy. It is not an easy thing to do – just ask Israel Folau.

While faithfulness to God is not easy, especially in this grievously sinful age in which we live, let us all strive every day to be faithful to God, to love that which He loves and hate that which He hates.

And let us all pray for a mighty outpouring of His Spirit in our day and generation.

Let us pray for a revival.

It is the only thing that will turn the tide of sodomy and all other dreadful sins which so debauch, corrupt and defile our land today.

We are promised that this will come if we earnestly seek it.

Let us all resolve even to do so, starting even from now.

2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Jacob Stockdale joins Hillsong leader in attacking Israel Folau for Biblical stance on sodomy

Ulster and Ireland rugby star Jacob Stockdale has again made some very disappointing comments for a professing Christian by condemning Australian rugby star Israel Folau for stating the Biblical position on homosexuality.

Stockdale, who is involved with Banbridge Road Presbyterian Church in Dromore, County Down and whose father is a Presbyterian prison chaplain, said Folau was “preaching all the wrong things about Christianity”.

This follows on from a previous interview Jacob Stockdale gave to the Presbyterian Herald, in which he stated that he went drinking with his team mates and outlined his opposition to the Biblical principle of separation, which you can read about by clicking here.

And he has now joined the leader of the utterly ungodly Hillsong Church movement, Brian Houston (pictured, below) in condemning Israel Folau for simply repeating what the Bible has to say.

Let us remember what Israel Folau said, or indeed posted on his Instagram page.

His post, which is pictured at the top of this article, stated:

WARNING: Drunks, Homosexuals, Adulterers, Liars, Fornicators, Thieves, Atheists, Idolaters – HELL AWAITS YOU. REPENT! ONLY JESUS SAVES.

This is taken from the following passage in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, which says: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

So Israel Folau was simply repeating what the Bible says but Jacob Stockdale appears to be claiming to know better than God’s Word, saying Israel Folau is “preaching all the wrong things about Christianity”.

Does that mean Jacob Stockdale strokes that passage from his copy of the Bible?

The wrath and judgement of God is a crucial aspect of Christianity, just as is His love and mercy.

Were there no punishment for sin, then why would we need or desire God’s love or mercy?

Paul, in his first letter to the believers at Thessalonika, stated that Jesus had delivered those who were saved “from the wrath to come”.

Jesus spoke of “the wrath to come” in His time on earth (Matthew 3:7) and warned that we ought to “fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

Is this what Jacob Stockdale considers to be “all the wrong things about Christianity”?

Jesus and the Apostle Paul both preached the judgment of God, yet Jacob Stockdale seems to be opposed to this.

It is very disappointing he could not side with Israel Folau, but instead sides with the LGBT agenda which is spreading like wildfire through our country.

This is what Jacob Stockdale said in an interview with the Irish Times: “From a religious point of view, it preaches all the wrong things about Christianity. It preaches God is a spiteful God, a hateful God. You are going to hell. You are going to burn in hell. Realistically, God is an all loving God. He’s a forgiving God.

“Going back to Israel Folau that’s the point he missed, that’s the point he didn’t talk about. As a Christian and rugby player it was very disappointing. For me Israel Folau wasn’t respectful of other people.

“As a Christian and a professional sports person you don’t want to divide people. You don’t want to alienate people.

“You want people to feel comfortable coming to watch you play rugby. You want people to feel comfortable coming to support you knowing why you believe and knowing what kind of person you are.”

There are a great many things we could highlight from those quotes and, to (hopefully!) prevent the article becoming too lengthy, we will address just some of it.

Saying that Israel Folau, by quoting the Bible, is preaching a “hateful” and “spiteful God”, is a very foolish thing to do.

Jacob Stockdale goes on to say it is hateful to say that people are going to hell and that God is an “all loving” and “forgiving God”.

Certainly God is a God of love, He is patient and He is willing and able to forgive us of our sins.

2 Peter 3:9 says: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

But there are consequences for failing to repent of our sins.

Revelation 21:8 outlines this. It says: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Romans 6:23 reminds us that the “wages of sin is death” and Jesus said in Luke 13:3 that “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”.

We are all under a death sentence for sin and the only way to be saved from it is to place our faith and trust in Christ and repent of our sins.

This is the central message of the gospel, yet Jacob Stockdale seems to think it is wrong for Israel Folau to mention it.

He also unfairly and inaccurately claims that Israel Folau “didn’t talk about” God’s forgiveness. In the caption Israel Folau placed beside the post he shared, he said that “Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him”.

It’s pretty clear that claim by Jacob Stockdale is wrong.

And he concludes by saying that you “don’t want to divide people” or “alienate” them.

Certainly it is not desirable to do that, but at what cost?

Do professing Christians, to save from offending the unsaved, refuse to tell them what the Bible says and the judgement God has in store if they don’t repent?

God forbid.

Paul, as he bid farewell to those in the church at Ephesus, said in Acts 20:26-27: “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men . For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”

Paul hadn’t just told people the nice bits of the love, mercy, lovingkindness and salvation of God, but he had preached the consequences of sin, he had preached the punishment of the unrepentant. In doing so, he had discharged his duty and the blood of the people of Ephesus was not on his hands.

He was a good watchman (see Ezekiel 33).

If Jacob Stockdale is refusing to tell others of the consequences of their sin so as not to offend or “alienate” them, then the same could not be said of him.

Jacob Stockdale’s idea of not dividing people is also an unscriptural one.

Jesus states this Himself in Matthew 10:34-35, which says: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

Jacob Stockdale’s idea of not offending people is also an unscriptural one.

1 Peter 2:7-8 says: “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient”.

As we have stated, we should not set out to offend people, but we “ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

But it is not up to us if people will listen or not, if they will be offended or not, all we can do is discharge our duty and warn of God’s judgement.

Ezekiel 2:7 says: “And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.”

Sadly, it would appear that Jacob Stockdale is not prepared to do this.

As we stated before, Jacob Stockdale is seen as a role model by many young Christians and is in a position where he could take an incredibly powerful stand for God.

It is most disappointing that he is instead criticising Israel Folau (whose church links we would have considerable reservations over but he is clearly right in this instance) for taking a stand on this key battleground in the drive by God-defiers and God-deniers to attack Christianity.

We would once again urge Jacob Stockdale in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to “consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5) and take what would prove to be a mighty stand for God.

And we would urge anyone reading this to take that same stand for God and speak out against that which is contrary to God and His Word and never be afraid to “declare all the counsel of God”.

2 Timothy 4:2: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Marching for sodomite marriage- Presbyterian minister Rev Bill Shaw

Isaiah 5:20: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

In this day of outrageous apostasy, where bitter is being put for sweet and sweet for bitter on a daily basis, it is still shocking to observe the conduct of ordained Presbyterian minister Rev Bill Shaw.

He doesn’t currently hold a charge and instead runs an arts and ‘peace’ centre in north Belfast called the Duncairn, while spending a significant amount of his time expressing his extreme opposition to the Israeli state and unequivocal support for the Palestinian lobby.

While we are not looking to or are indeed particularly well equipped to engage in a debate surrounding Middle Eastern politics, it is certainly a very strange position to hold, as a supposedly Christian minister, to God’s chosen people.

Another pet project of his is to consistently express his support for the sodomite agenda, and he paraded as part of the so-called ‘marriage equality’ procession in Belfast at the weekend, which he posted about on his Facebook page (pictured, below).

This follows on from his participation in the sodomite ‘Pride’ parade in the city last summer, at which Rev Bill Shaw also carried a poster saying that he, as a Presbyterian, supported the LGBT agenda, something which flies in the face of God’s Word.

The Bible is so clear on sodomy it truly can only be the view of someone who has cast off God’s Word to try to claim it is permissible in the eyes of God.

Genesis 2:18, 21-24: “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Leviticus 18:22: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

Romans 1:26-28: “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient”.

These verses are crystal clear.

Indeed, nowhere whatsoever in Scripture is the notion of a same-sex relationship, much less marriage, considered as even a legitimate possibility, never mind commendable.

Paul, in his letters, speaks of elders in the church being the “husband of one wife” (Titus 1:6) and, of marriage, says “let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband” (1 Corinthians 7:2).

Jesus reiterated the foundational principle of a man being married to a woman.

Matthew 19:4-6: “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

These very clear verses appear to either not be sufficient for Rev Bill Shaw or he has simply disregarded them.

Whatever the case, his actions run completely at odds to that which is approved by God in His Word.

Sadly, this is a topic we have had to visit on numerous occasions as so many churches and professing Christians seem to be compromising on the sin which brought God’s judgment down on Sodom and Gomorrah.

And for any who try to deny this was the reason, just have a read of Jude v 7, which says: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

We have seen Groomsport Presbyterian Church in County Down celebrate the same-sex ‘marriage’ of one of its former trainee ‘ministers’, Jennifer Barchi.

We have seen so-called ‘Christian’ rock band Rend Collective say it is a “sad thing” in response to a transgender person bemoaning the fact they couldn’t lead worship or preach in certain churches.

We have seen Presbyterian ‘minister’ ‘Rev’ Lesley Carroll refuse to speak out in defence of the Asher’s Bakery as they were prosecuted by the (In)Equality Commission for refusing to bake a cake bearing a slogan in favour of same-sex marriage.

We have seen Carnmoney Presbyterian Church minister Rev John Dickinson endorsing the lesbian ‘Christian’ LGBT campaigner Vicky Beeching, along with another Presbyterian ‘minister’, ‘Rev’ Liz Hughes.

We have seen the DUP, which once stood foursquare for the Word of God, greatly soften their stance in relation to sodomy, allowing sodomite pardons to be brought in, seeing leader Arlene Foster attend and speak at an event celebrating sodomites at Stormont and topping it off by nominating a lesbian candidate for the recent council elections.

This is just a brief snapshot of the overthrowing of God’s Word which is being practised by so many who ought to be defending it.

And Rev Bill Shaw is no exception.

As an ordained Presbyterian minister, he ought to be taking a stand against the rising tide of sin in our land which seeks to drown out all opposition to it, but instead he is joining in with the sinful chorus of the enemies of Christ.

Dear Christian, you cannot but be aware of the prevalence and promotion of that which God has called an “abomination” in our country.

It is not enough to merely be vexed and grieved by such depravity, we must speak out.

Lot was vexed by the filthiness he was surrounded with in Sodom, yet he was not a good example for us to follow.

We are told in 2 Peter 2:7 that God “delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked”.

Would any Christian reading this consider Lot an example to follow? Yet he was vexed by the wickedness all around him.

That was a proper and just reaction, but it wasn’t enough.

What action did he take? There’s very little recorded in the Bible of it.

Even when he offered shelter to the angels and tried to protect them from the wretches outside the door, he vilely offered his virgin daughters to satisfy the unseemly lusts of the men of Sodom (Genesis 19:4-8).

We can also see the ungodly house over which he headed.

His wife, having a regard for the sin and evil company she had apparently ‘enjoyed’, looked back at Sodom, against God’s command, and perished (Genesis 19:17, 26).

His sons-in-law had clearly heard so little of God from Lot that when he told them of the impending judgment of God upon it, he “seemed as one that mocked” (Genesis 19:14).

His daughters, who survived the city’s destruction, had their minds so corrupted by the company they kept, plotted to get their father drunk two nights in a row before engaging in vile conduct so as to have children (Genesis 19:31-38).

Lot, of course, was foolish enough to allow himself to be drunk the first night, and was more foolish still to allow it to happen a second time, and so soon after.

And this is the man who was “vexed with the filthy conversation (or lifestyle) of the wicked”.

He was grieved and stopped there and the consequences were grave.

And likewise today the consequences will be grave for us personally and Ulster collectively if we don’t speak out against the sins of the day.

Sodomy is the number one sin of the day; it is being waved in the faces and rubbed in the noses of every child of God.

Are we going to sit silently and tut to ourselves or in company where we know we are safe to do so?

Or are we ready to take our stand for Christ and be determined to obey God rather than the latest evil thought of man?

Rev Bill Shaw is taking to the streets to support sodomy and call for that which grieves the Lord to be foisted upon us.

What will we do to take our stand for God and His Word?

Isaiah 58:1: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”

Hillsong leader attacks Israel Folau for standing against sodomy

1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

There have been many headlines written in recent weeks following a social media post by the leading Australian rugby player, Israel Folau, in which he posted an image stating that homosexuals, among many other groups of sinners, would go to hell if they don’t repent.

The post uploaded by Israel Folau on Instagram was based on the Scripture passage we have included at the top of the article.

Despite the fact that the image Israel Folau shared makes no difference between any of the sins specified, the mention of homosexuals was enough to get the poor sensitive souls reading it all in a fluster, demanding that Israel Folau, widely considered the best rugby player in Australia, be ditched by his national team.

Those efforts appear to have been successful as Israel Folau’s contract was ended by Rugby Australia, although we understand he may well be challenging the decision.

It certainly is a sad day when simply repeating what the Bible says is rewarded with the loss of your livelihood.

And it is sadder still when the leader of an influential, supposedly Christian church, has criticised Israel Folau for taking a stand for scriptural truth.

However, that is exactly what has happened with Hillsong Church leader Brian Houston castigating Israel Folau for merely being consistent with the teachings of the Bible.

He said: “As Christians it is equally important to look at ourselves and our own failings and imperfections.

“If you look at the list of sins that Izzy listed there’s not too many people he’s left out, including Christians. There isn’t a person on earth who hasn’t told a lie or put something before God (idolatry).

“In 40 years of telling people about the good news of Jesus, I have seen that the ‘turn or burn’, approach to proclaiming the message of Christianity alienates people. Scaring people doesn’t draw them into the love of Jesus.

“The world doesn’t need more judgmental Christians.”

The New Zealand Herald also reported that “Houston also said he hopes Folau grows to understand the importance of Christians loving even those who believe differently, and believes the rugby star could benefit from looking inwardly before judging others”.

Now certainly it is right and proper that all professing Christians examine themselves, and we are instructed to do so in the Scriptures.

2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

But if Christians were waiting until they were perfect before they denounced sin, then nobody would ever criticise any sin and would have to turn a blind eye to all manner of evil around them.

This is clearly unscriptural.

We are told in Ephesians 5:11 to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them”.

Jude v 3 tells us to “earnestly contend for the faith”.

How can you instruct or implore anyone to turn away from sin without pointing out that which is sinful? How are people to know what is sinful unless they are told what is sinful?

Yet Brian Houston is advocating refusing to preach the full counsel of God.

He has rejected the notion of warning people about hell. Yet Jesus didn’t shun what Brian Houston calls the “turn or burn” approach.

Matthew 23:33: “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”

So Jesus warned against ending up in hell, yet Brian Houston of Hillsong disagrees with the approach of the One Whom he claims to be proclaiming.

Not only that, Brian Houston claims that “scaring people doesn’t draw them into the love of Jesus”.

Once again, let’s hear what Jesus Himself actually has to say on the matter.

Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Jesus says we ought to fear Him and be afraid of His power in being able to condemn sinners to an eternity in hell.

That is what Jesus preached, yet Brian Houston claims to know better. Who do you believe?

Brian Houston would be far better preaching that an eternity in hell awaits those who don’t repent of their sin.

After all, how can anyone preach that you must be saved without telling people what there is to be saved from?

Of course, however, the so called ‘megachurch’ Hillsong is very clearly, to any who choose to look, an organisation which acts in defiance to God.

One of its leading figures, Joel Timothy Houston, has previously tweeted his rejection of the Biblical account of creation, instead choosing to back the utterly anti-Scriptural ‘Big Bang Theory’.

And to get an increased flavour of the ungodly nature of Hillsong, you can read this very good article on the ‘Protestant Standard’ website by clicking here.

So it can come as little surprise when we see Israel Folau being condemned by that church’s leader for taking a stand for Biblical morality.

We may not agree with everything that Folau believes, we simply do not know, though there would be concern at the fact his church is apparently part of the Australian Christian Churches group, which Brian Houston was, until recently, the leader of.

Certainly, being in fellowship with Hillsong in any way is very concerning indeed.

And we would encourage anyone reading this not to have anything to do with Hillsong and not to support it in any way.

2 Corinthians 6:17: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing”.