There appears to have been something of a manufactured storm in a teacup this week over comments made to Ulster Unionist MLA and professing Christian, Elim Church deacon ‘Roman’ Robbie Butler, who ran to Dublin to meet the Pope back in August.
The comments alleged to have been made to him are in relation to his visit to see “that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition”.
It’s claimed one DUP MLA mock crossed himself in the manner of a Papist while another pointed out to him that he was wrong to meet the Pope because he is “Antichrist”.
Only the usage of the term “Antichrist” directly to ‘Roman’ Robbie has apparently shaken his sensitivities, who is quoted in the Irish republican and Roman Catholic Irish News saying: “It was a throwback to the 1970s, I just couldn’t believe it.”
Given he was born in 1972, according to Wikipedia, he must have had a remarkable awareness of current affairs from when he was in his earliest years.
Regardless of his incredibly socially aware childhood, ‘Roman’ Robbie is badly off track to be making such a lazy, trendy comment, which is essentially the “It’s 2018” (or whichever year it currently is) argument, apparently the silver bullet to win any argument.
The problem ‘Roman’ Robbie Butler has is that God isn’t subject to changes along the lines of fashionable opinion.
Malachi 3:6 says: “For I am the Lord, I change not”.
Hebrews 13:8 says: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
Apparently the comments were made to ‘Roman’ Robbie Butler in the corridors of Stormont by a DUP MLA, who told him he should not have gone to meet the Pope, who he described as “Antichrist”.
Of course, that is an absolutely correct viewpoint to take, given Rome’s manifold blasphemies.
The “Antichrist” comment is nothing other than a reiteration of what Protestants have believed for hundreds of years.
This term was included in the Westminster Confession of Faith, drawn up in 1646.
“Antichrist” means “in the place of Christ”, therefore the term, when applied to the Pope, means he has set himself up in the place of Christ, which he undoubtedly has.
Let us not forget the blasphemous titles which the Pope takes upon himself.
He calls himself the ‘Holy Father’, despite the Bible telling us in Matthew 23:9: “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”
Therefore we can see him blaspheming God the Father.
The Pope also takes upon himself the name of ‘Pontiff’, meaning ‘bridge’. He claims to be the bridge between man and God, despite the Bible clearly teaching that role belongs to Christ alone. 1 Timothy 2:5 says: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”.
We are also told in John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Therefore we can see him blaspheming God the Son.
The Pope also calls himself the vicar of Christ on earth, despite the fact the Bible teaches that role belongs to the Holy Spirit. This is made clear in John 14:16, 26: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Therefore we can see him blaspheming God the Holy Ghost.
So the term “Antichrist” is an entirely appropriate one to use, regardless of whether ‘Roman’ Robbie Butler thinks it is an outdated term. He must think 2 Corinthians 6:17 doesn’t apply any more either. It says: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”
Separation from the workers of evil is never outdated.
After the hypersensitive ‘Roman’ Robbie Butler cried to the Irish News about these mean, nasty comments, the newspaper published the names of the men guilty of these heinous crimes.
The man who mockingly crossed himself was named as Christopher Stalford, while the man claimed to have pointed out that the Pope is “Antichrist” is Mervyn Storey.
Christopher Stalford’s actions appear little more than a harmless joke, yet he has foolishly apologised for any offence he may have caused.
Doing his best impression of a jellyfish, Christopher Stalford (pictured, above) said: “I would never mock or deride someone because of their religious belief because I am a man of religious belief.
“At the time it was clear to me that the incident with Robbie Butler was between friends enjoying a joke in the context of mounting speculation, including in The Irish News, that I would be attending the event in Dublin – I am surprised that three months later I am being accused of anything other than that.”
Why did Christopher Stalford not just say that the doctrines of Rome are evil and ‘Roman’ Robbie Butler had left himself open to derision as he had in fact made a mockery of true Protestantism by consorting with Popery?
Of course, ‘Roman’ Robbie crying about the matter, regardless of his backtracking once the horse had bolted by saying he didn’t agree with the publication of the Irish News article naming the men allegedly responsible, is beyond pathetic, but Christopher Stalford ought to have taken a firm line rather than caving in to the smallest amount of pressure.
Perhaps Christopher Stalford could attempt to make it up to ‘Roman’ Robbie Butler by bringing him out to a GAA match tomorrow (Sunday). Wouldn’t that be a lovely photo opportunity to prove to the enemies of Christ that you’re prepared to compromise your beliefs for political expedience?
Then you have Mervyn Storey (pictured, below) and the comments attributed to him about the Pope being “Antichrist”.
He is, of course, right, but it is surely rank hypocrisy on his part to criticise ‘Roman’ Robbie Butler for meeting the head of the anti-Christian Roman Catholic system, if he did so.
After all, this is a man who three years ago attended the home of ecumenism in Northern Ireland, the utterly ungodly Corrymeela Community, based in Ballycastle, County Antrim.
In his role as a minister in the Stormont Assembly, he congratulated the God-defying organisation on reaching 50 years of spreading deceit and was pictured smiling beneath a wooden cross with the leader of that wretched grouping, the sodomite Padraig O’Tuama.
Sodomites are a grouping he is rather familiar with, as during his stint as a minister his department awarded funds to various sodomite groupings, including £170,000 to the Strabane / Lifford sodomite ‘Pride’ grouping and contributions to the Belfast ‘Pride’ celebration of that which God has called an “abomination” (Leviticus 18:22).
When contacted by the Irish News, Mervyn Storey said he had better things to worry about than claims made by ‘Roman’ Robbie Butler.
Why did he not state categorically to that Irish republican rag that the Pope is a servant of the devil and is leading untold millions to hell? What a chance was missed. Perhaps he was worried about the criticism he would receive for publicly stating that.
1 Samuel 2:30 reminds us God says that “them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
God would have honoured such a principled stand, but Mervyn Storey chose not to do such and God says he will be “lightly esteemed”, or held in low regard.
Dear reader, let us not be afraid to take our stand for Christ in this day of apostasy.
And dear reader, let us not be tied up by loyalty to one particular party, regardless of what that party does contrary to God’s Word.
Our first loyalty must always be to God and His Word, inspired and inerrant, not to any political organisation.
Let our attitude be that of Job, found in Job 23:12: “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”
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