jan 15 email

1STRENGTHENING REFORMED YOUNG PEOPLE TO REACH THE NATIONS FOR GOD’S GLORY

2 THE MESSENGER | january - february 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

THE COMPASSIONATE CHRISTIAN 6kNOX HYNDMAN PROFILES THE LIFE OF WILLIAM BOOTH, FOUNDER OF THE SALVATION ARMY

A Consumer World 6ELEANOR MccOLLUM ASkS HOW SHOULD cHRISTIANS ENgAgE WITH POPULAR cULTURE AND ADVERTISINg?

je ne suis pas charlie 10RELFEcTIONS FROM ANDREW LYTLE ON A TRAgIc FEW DAYS IN FRANcE, AND THE NATIONAL RESPONSE

It doesn’t take long for the mindless optimism of New Year’s Eve to subside. You may not have started January with an alcohol-induced hangover but it doesn’t take long for the pressures of a broken world to leave your head pounding and legs trembling. Rather than the ‘new you’ promised by countless adverts, you are weighed down by your old sinful nature and find that heart-breaking circumstances won’t change with a new calendar. There are no rose-tinted spectacles free with your subscription for 2015. All we can offer is the heart-felt realism of broken people in a broken world whose Christ-centred hope is found in an empty tomb and a returning King. I love the honesty of Robert Robb’s writing. In our cover article he reflects on how painful circumstances can seem to drown out God’s promises, a theme developed throughout this issue. David Duly’s heart-breaking article reflects on when painful circumstances come crashing into your church life. Our denomination has been under repeated attack from wolves but David gives a Christ-centred response in our King’s promise to ‘put all his enemies under His feet’. Elsewhere we consider how our world is broken by poverty and greed, terrorism and disease. The short reflection on Psalm 18 shows that by depending on our rock, Jesus Christ, we find the deliverance and strength to live in a broken world. Similarly, Roger’s first challenge wisely calls us to meditate on Jesus through his Word. If you want something lighter and frothier, you’ll find plenty of other outlets which can offer mindless optimism. I’m deeply grateful for those who have written suffering-scented and Christ-sustained articles. I pray that against some bleak backdrops you will see the beauty of Christ shining brighter than ever.

EditorialSTRENGTHENING REFORMED YOUNG PEOPLE TO REACH THE NATIONS FOR GOD’S GLORY

JANUARY + FEBRUARY 2015

Editorial Team

Editor | JAMES MCCULLOUGHSecretary | ABIGAIL NELSON

Design | ANDREW MORRISONTreasurer | ALISTAIR ROLLESTONDistribution | EMMA DUNWOODY

Features | STEPHEN STEELE

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“Make every effort to supplement

your faith with virtue, and virtue

with knowledge, and knowledge

with self-control”

2 Peter 1:4-5


MEDITATIONchallenge ‘SO WHAt’S YOuR New Year’s resolution?’ is often asked at the start of a new year. typical responses include ‘Get fit and lose weight’, ‘Eat less chocolate’ or even ‘Be less grumpy’. Often our resolutions are quickly broken. Perhaps your resolution for 2015 has already been discarded. At the beginning of a new year we often take time to reflect on our lives and resolve to make changes in order to improve. Sadly, it may be the only time of the year we sit down and take time to reflect, with our daily lives commonly being characterised by ‘rushing’ and ‘busyness’. The word ‘meditate’ means to ‘think upon’ or ‘reflect’ and the Bible speaks often about meditation - particularly in the Psalms. In verse 2 of the first Psalm, we are reminded what characterises the life of the blessed man - ‘His delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.’ Meditation is a Christian duty which is easily neglected. We live in a world where we are inundated everyday with information from social media and blogs. We find ourselves skim reading in order to wade our way through all the information. The more we skim, the more we become people who prefer to skim. We need to guard against this mindset when it comes to

reading God’s Word in our daily devotions. We should begin our daily devotions by asking the Holy Spirit for help. As we read God’s Word, we should select a verse or doctrine on which to meditate. Perhaps the text highlights a particular attribute of God, the seriousness of sin or God’s promises. Memorising Scripture helps to stimulate meditation and strengthen our faith. The Puritans stressed the need for meditation and they wrote extensively about it. For them it was a daily duty which brought many benefits. Edmund Calamy (1600-1666) sums it up well when he wrote, ‘A true meditation is when a man doth so meditate of Christ as to get his heart inflamed with the love of Christ; so meditate of the truths of God, as to be transformed into them; and so meditate of sin as to get his heart to hate sin.’ Will you resolve this year to meditate more on Christ through His Word?

ROgER slOAnCookstown Fellowship


HAvE YOu EvER been in a situation where your hopes and expectations were built up to find that things didn’t work out as you had expected? Perhaps it seemed as though those hopes and expectations were smashed and would never be realised. Perhaps a relationship that you thought would lead to marriage disintegrated. Perhaps you faced rejection from the

university you wanted to attend, or worse, the loss of a dear friend in unexpected circumstances. In 1991 my hopes and expectations were shattered when I had to resign from the Gospel ministry, something for which I had worked hard and sacrificed much. Although Lynn and I were sure that God was in control of our situation, if truth be

told, for a time our pain spoke louder than our theology. The Israelites probably experienced something similar in the aftermath of Moses first visiting Pharaoh and telling him to let Israel go (Exodus 5). The hopes and expectations of the people of God had been raised by Moses’ appearance among them, informing them of God’s promise

In the first of two articles Robert Robb begins the Exodus story by

reflecting on the pain faced by God’s people. We’ve seen Jesus’ greater

deliverance from slavery and suffering yet, in this broken world, pain can

threaten to drown out even the promises guaranteed by the empty tomb.

cover article



and plan to bring them out of Egypt. When Moses went to the Egyptian ruler that day the people must have been eagerly anticipating better things ahead. God had heard their cries and was answering their prayers (Exodus 3v7ff). Things, however, did not turn out as they expected. Instead of setting them free, Pharaoh took steps to demoralise God’s people and to discredit God’s spokesman. He demoralised the people by making life even harder for them. Instead of continuing to supply straw for them with which to make bricks, he told them they had to find the straw for themselves. The daily quota of bricks did not decrease; they had to make the same number each day under far more difficult conditions. Their hopes and expectations of deliverance were dashed. Their situation was made worse. Their suffering became even greater. This of course led to the people becoming (among other things) dejected and demoralised. As well as that, Pharaoh successfully turned the people against Moses and discredited him in their eyes. Moses had told them God was for them and was going to deliver them. However, when things got even tougher for them, Pharaoh told them that Moses’ fine sounding words were nothing but ‘lies’ (Exod. 5:9). Pharaoh knew how to bring Moses down in the eyes of the people: don’t give in to Moses’ demands, make things harder for them, then the people will see that Moses’ fine sounding promises were ‘empty lying words’. The Hebrew word used here means something that is a sham; it is deceitful or empty. Pharaoh wanted the people to conclude that everything God’s deliverer said to them was a sham. His fine words were just that – words. One way Satan attacks God’s people is to discourage and demoralise them. He does this by taking the hard and painful circumstances that we face in life and using them to make us doubt that God is really in control. He puts thoughts into our minds such as, ‘If God really loved me he would not allow this to happen’ or ‘God cannot be trusted. Look at what he has done to me and withheld from me.’ He will also try to discredit God’s servants whom he has appointed as his spokesmen (ministers of the Gospel) by insinuating that all the fine sounding sermons about God bringing blessing into our lives are nothing but ‘empty words’. Could it be that sermons you hear about God working all things together for

good in your life seem to be contradicted by the reality of your experience? Satan takes advantage of this by making us think ‘empty words’. I confess that in a church-plant situation this is not only one of the ways in which Satan often attacks me, but, to my shame, one of the ways in which I often succumb to his attacks. It is interesting to note that, when the Israelites were faced with the more painful situation of having to work even harder each day, they responded by blaming Moses. to put Exodus 5v21 into modern day language the people were saying, ‘This is entirely your fault. We wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for you.’ It’s as if they are saying, ‘We wish you had never come to us in the first place. We were better off before you came along with your empty promises.’ On the human level, their reaction was understandable. In all probability we too would have shouted abuse at Moses and Aaron. But, whilst understandable, it was nevertheless faithless and sinful. Did they really think that Pharaoh would give in meekly to Moses’ demands? Did they really think that he was just going to let over one million workers walk out of his country? Were they not prepared for any kind of reaction, any kind of opposition from Pharaoh? One thing is for sure, their faith and trust in God’s word through Moses disappeared instantly at the first sign of trouble. Instead of remaining firm in their faith and waiting to see what God would do, they run to Pharaoh and they turn on and blame Moses and Aaron for the way things are. They would rather have had things remain as they were previously. The status quo would have been preferable to all this hassle, even though the status quo was far from what God wanted for them. But here is the thing - God had begun to work and when God begins to work sometimes that will mean an upsetting of the status quo. Sometimes it will mean having to go through painful experiences and painful changes before God’s blessing comes. The day of deliverance was soon to dawn but, as in the realm of nature, so too for the Israelites the darkness is always deepest just before the dawn. In the midst of the darkness of their pain the people lost sight of the word of the Lord. Like the Israelites we too can be susceptible to unbelief and to moaning and complaining when things don’t work out

the way we imagined. God has sent men to congregations to be a blessing to them. He has sent them there to bring about needed Biblical change and to take the work forward. What if there is some opposition to these changes, things get a bit heated in the congregation, some families leave and others are complaining? The atmosphere in the congregation sours, problems arise and in the midst of it all some of those who were initially supportive of the changes begin to lose sight of the goal. They too then begin to complain, and the thought is in people’s minds – ‘Why didn’t they just leave things the way they were. Things may not have been great, but they weren’t half as bad as they are now. It’s the minister’s fault; he is destroying our church.’ But the fact of the matter is that there is no real spiritual gain in the Christian life without pain. It was from the womb of Egypt that Israel as a nation was born and every birthing process invariably involves some degree of pain. So it is in the life of the individual believer and so it is in the life of the church. When God wants to take us on to better things the first steps forward may be painful and difficult steps. For a time things in our life may get harder, our circumstances more painful, but we need, in the midst of the difficulties and the pain to remember that God knows what he is doing and God knows where he is leading us. God had said to Israel ‘I will bring you out’. Their circumstances were saying ‘There is no way you are leaving Egypt’. Their pain was speaking louder than God’s promise and sadly God’s people were allowing themselves to be governed by their pain rather than God’s promise. The prophet Isaiah told God’s people, ‘Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God’ (Isaiah 50v10). Sometimes in the darkness we have to trust in and rely upon God even when we cannot understand what he is doing at the time. No matter how loud our pain may be screaming at us we must concentrate our minds upon and listen to the promises of God which he has given us in his Word.

ROBERT ROBBEnniskillen RPC


Up and down the City RoadIn an’ out the Eagle

That’s the way the money goesPop goes the weasel

The words of this nursery rhyme may sound nonsensical but they are in fact a comment on life in part of London in the nineteenth century. The City Road was in the East End, whilst the Eagle was a notorious drinking den. Pop was apparently a slang word for the pawnbroker and weasel was shorthand for an overcoat. So the rhyme is saying that men in the East End were quite prepared to pawn the only warm coat they had to get enough money to spend an evening drinking in the Eagle. This was the London to which William Booth came as a young man with a burden to bring the Gospel to its citizens.

EARLY YEARS William was born in Nottingham in 1829 and, because of poor family circumstances, had to get a job as a pawnbroker’s assistant. It was not pleasant work but it did bring William face to face with the realities of poverty and so was preparing him for his future life’s work. William was converted in the Methodist chapel in his home town and from the beginning of his Christian life he had a burning zeal to share the Gospel. upon completing his apprenticeship he decided to move to London where again he found work as a pawnbroker. However, his heart was in evangelism and an organization in the city gave him the opportunity to preach. Through this experience his sense of call to ministry grew. In 1855 he was married to Catherine Mumford and she

shared his conviction that he should pursue full-time Gospel ministry.

PREAcHINg THE gOSPEL Since his conversion William had been a member of the Methodist Church but some things about it made him uneasy. He regarded the Church as too middle class and respectable. There was an almost total absence of poor working class people in the congregations. He moved membership to another branch of Methodism known as the New Connexion and began to train for the ministry within this body. His college principal approved William despite his unorthodox preaching style. He was ordained and sent to a small congregation in Gateshead in the north of England. During his ministry there so many people made professions of faith that

BIOGRAPHY

The Compassionate ChristianWilliam Booth and a burden for the unreached


the congregation became known as ‘ the converting shop’! William did not feel suited to a settled ministry and considered himself unduly restricted as his real desire was to be a roving evangelist. So, in 1865 William and Catherine, both now in their mid-thirties, and with six children and without work, returned to London.

THE cHRISTIAN MISSION One night, walking across the city, William stopped outside the ‘Blind Beggar’ pub and began to preach. ‘When I saw those masses of poor people, so many of them evidently without God and without hope in this world and found that they so readily and eagerly listened to me...I walked back to my West End home and said to my wife, “Kate, I have found my destiny.” ‘ William continued to walk weekly back to the East End and preached the Gospel, either in the open air or rented halls or tents. The work gradually developed into what became known as ‘The Christian Mission’ which over time evolved into the Salvation Army.

THE ARMY TAkES SHAPE The Salvation Army developed without any real planning and began because some Christian Mission leaders thought of themselves in military terms and spoke of themselves as soldiers in God’s army. In 1878 as William prepared his report for the Annual Meeting of the Mission he described it as a volunteer army. His son, Bramwell, objected to being called a volunteer because he regarded himself as under compulsion to obey God’s call. And so the word ‘volunteer’ was replaced

with the word ‘salvation’ and the Salvation Army formally began its existence. Local groups were now called corps and a crest was designed incorporating the sun, a cross, two swords and a crown. Members began to wear a very simple type of uniform. For the female soldiers a straw hat, designed by

Catherine, became known as the hallelujah bonnet! Increasingly military terminology was used and William himself was given the title General. Marching bands were organized and some of the hymns used were set to tunes popular in the music halls. It was some time before William was convinced that this was quite proper but he was eventually persuaded, famously commenting ‘Why should the Devil have all the best tunes’! The work of the Army expanded at a remarkable rate and within ten years of its formation there were about one thousand corps throughout Britain and Ireland. Soon Army personnel were to be found working in Europe and in America. However, the impact of the Army’s ministry in local communities was not always well received. Soldiers, both male and female, were physically attacked and abused. The first recorded death was of a woman member, Susannah Beattie, who was kicked to death by an angry mob. What provoked such violent opposition? The perpetrators of this violence were a strange alliance of anarchists, brewers, and publicans who were annoyed that because of the work of the Army fewer people were frequenting their pubs.

EXPANDINg MINISTRY Though the focus was always on preaching the Gospel, from the early days, William and his fellow officers were convinced that it was essential they should address the practical needs of men and women. The statistics certainly confirmed that need. In his book ‘Darkest England and the way out’ William wrote of ‘the submerged tenth’ of the population who regularly went without sufficient food. Several areas of ministry were developed to reach not only the poor and starving but also prostitutes, drunkards and the homeless. Hostels were opened and cheap meals dispensed and opportunities for employment were provided. Through this widening ministry and the contribution it was making to improve the lives of the neediest, the Salvation Army was regarded with more respect. By the end of the century William was being treated as a world statesman, received by Kings and Presidents. William Booth never retired and kept working into his eighties. When he died a simple announcement was placed on the door of the Headquarters ‘The General has laid down his sword.’ Thirty-five thousand

people attended his funeral, including Queen Mary who slipped in unannounced.

cHALLENgESWilliam Booth had a particular burden for that section of society which was not being reached by the churches. The challenge remains for the church today, ‘ Are there still areas like that?’ The church’s priority is always to preach the Gospel and carry out the Great Commission but the work of the Salvation Army forces us to consider whether and to what extent we are to address the social needs around us in our communities. There were several weak spots in William Booth’s ministry. He was certainly not a theologian. He was less inclined to ask, ‘Are these methods Biblical?’ than, ‘Are these methods effective?’ But that inevitably meant that practices crept in which were certainly not Biblical. Among these was the recognition of women preachers, beginning with his wife, Catherine. The Army also had a defective view of the sacraments and taught a strange doctrine of holiness. Its government too departed from what we believe to be the Biblical pattern and became very autocratic so that the General made all the big decisions. Sadly, even some of William’s own family spoke out against what they perceived as their father’s despotism. Yet here is a man who challenges us with his burning passion for the lost and his untiring zeal in the service of Christ. He was prepared to face ridicule and persecution for the sake of the Gospel and he never gave up. ‘While women weep as they do now, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, I’ll fight; where there yet remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight. I’ll fight to the very end.’ And so he did.

KnOx hyndmAnNewtownards RPC

the work of the Salvation Army forces us to consider

to what extent we are to address the social needs in

our communities


MANY OF YOu will have watched with horror and disbelief as the events of 7th – 9th January unfolded in and around Paris. The various terrorist attacks and shoot-outs with the police claimed the lives of 20 people in total including the terrorists, with several others injured. The immediate impact of the attacks has been well documented. Millions took to the streets notably in Paris but also in most towns and cities where smaller rallies were held. Heads of state and other leaders flew in to take a stand with France against terrorism. “Je suis Charlie” banners and posters could be seen just about everywhere: in shop windows, on buses, on billboards and even in our doctor’s waiting room. For days, “les attentats” (The attacks) were tHE topic of every conversation and news broadcast. Since these events, many friends outside of France have asked what my response is to the attacks. Here are some of my thoughts and feelings: For different reasons my main response is one of sadness. Sadness firstly because of the tragic loss of life in such violent circumstances and sadness for the families of those killed who have been plunged into grief and suffering. Sadness also that human beings should be so filled with hatred and anger and that they would see murder and terror as an appropriate way of venting their hatred. Even these killers are men created in the image of God. How sad that that image should be so tarnished by sin. I also feel sadness as I think about what these attacks have shown about France as a nation. It is saddening to see the god that has been made out of godless secularism. In all the responses of political leaders and social commentators, I did not hear

one mention of God. I didn’t hear anyone calling for prayer for the nation. Many stood for the right to mock God (Charlie Hebdo has quite a record in mocking God and Christianity) but not one voice did I hear speaking for public righteousness. I was saddened to see the depths of social, religious and racial unrest and disharmony that these attacks have revealed. While 4 million taking to the streets seems to suggest national unity, countless school pupils refusing to observe a minute’s silence in honour of the victims suggests something quite different. Some people have asked me if I see opportunities for the Gospel coming from these events. I respond to this question by underlining that first and foremost I see the events as a tragedy. People set out to do evil and to cause pain and suffering. France is reeling, people’s emotions are all over the place and so we must be sensitive and loving in any response we make. However, I believe in a sovereign God and am reminded of an event centuries ago when another group of men set out to do evil, this time to their brother Joseph as they sold him into slavery in Egypt. God, however, was at work in those events to bring about good and the saving of many lives. The God who oversaw those events many years ago is the same God who is sovereign over the attacks here in France in January. And so I can say with confidence that God will bring about his redemptive purposes, probably in ways that you and I haven’t even thought of. We need to pray that God would give us wisdom, tact and sensitivity as we seek to gauge the public mood in the days to come. And finally, while the Paris attacks were indeed terrible events, I can’t help

wondering why those who have responded with such passion to the attack on treasured freedom of speech and freedom of the press have been so silent about the almost daily attacks that are taking place, often against Christians, in places such as Nigeria and Pakistan. Where were the world leaders when over 130 children were killed in Peshawar in Pakistan? Where were the protests against the killings of thousands by Boko Haram? Where was the outcry against the strapping of a bomb to a 10-year-old girl and sending her into a market to blow her up and kill many others? As we read the Psalms we see many reminders for us to trust in God, especially when we see evil and wickedness prosper. God is not blind to the plight of the terror victims. He does not just ignore wrongdoing. He calls on us, his people, to rise up and to defend those who cannot defend themselves and he reassures us that there is a day of judgement coming when those who seem to go unpunished in this life will face the justice of God. So in the midst of terror and bloodshed we put our trust in God, we seek opportunities to have mercy on those who are suffering as we pray and give and highlight their need. And while we are assured that all evil will be judged we remember that we ourselves, because of our sin, deserved God’s judgement but instead we received his grace and his mercy so we pray that others too, whether those injured or bereaved or those carrying out the evil, would know the grace of God in their lives.

AndREW lyTlENantes RPC, France

BIOGRAPHY

je ne suis pas charlie

feature© Valentina Calà


SERIES

tHE LORD’S DAY ought to be the day that we look forward to the most. ‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”’ (Psalm 122v1) What happens though when, instead of shouts of gladness, we wake up on Sunday morning filled with dread? Instead of refreshment come pain and tears and instead of unity comes division. Our highest hopes for the Church come crashing down before our eyes. It makes us ask ‘Why, Lord? Why?’ ‘Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them...’ (Acts 20v28-30) These words are chilling. You can almost imagine Paul’s eyes moving from face to face as he speaks. He is speaking to a group of elders, advising them before he leaves. He chooses his words carefully. He commands them to be on lookout, watching, listening and waiting for the attacks. Everyone is attacked - the Shepherds and the flock. He informs them about the great cost of the flock, bought with the blood of God -not gold, not silver but the blood of God. That same God has put these men into these positions. However, even in the eldership, the wolves will sneak in. The men who are supposed to be protecting the flock will

be attacking the flock! How on earth are we supposed to take encouragement from this? Throughout his epistles, Paul constantly corrects false doctrine and rebukes public sin (Galatians 3v1-6), (1 Corinthians 5v1-5). Why is rebuke so often found alongside encouragement? Paul has to do this. It is normal Church life. Though some situations may seem overwhelming we need to remember that, ever since the Church started, Satan has been working to destroy it. You may feel exhausted and frustrated when your Church is suffering divisions or disagreements but remember we are in (and we can say this with no overreacting) the most important battle ever. ‘For He must reign until He puts all His enemies under His feet.’ (1 Corinthians 15v25) There is nowhere better to see the mighty work of Christ defeating his enemies than in the Church. Here we have the clearest examples of his power. Sinful, fallen, depraved humans, who hated him, now love him! Those who used his name as a swear word, now speak his name with reverence. Christ even turned a wolf like Paul into a shepherd. The Holy Spirit transformed him from a destroyer of the Church into a defender of the Church. ‘And he personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured

by Christ’s fullness.’ (Ephesians 4v11-13) Paul was equipped for service. This was made known by clear visible signs that showed his character. He had the elder-qualifying qualities that he laid out in his letters to timothy and titus. These are the kind of men who God has told us are to defend the Church, no less to be accepted. When troubles do arise we can be assured that God’s ordained men are able to handle whatever situation arises. We should remember also that God has used difficult times in the Church for much good. Read Acts 15 and see how God used those difficulties to clarify the Gospel. Read about Athanasius defending the deity of Christ against Arianism. Ask any Christian about a testing time they have suffered and they will tell you good things that have come from it as well as bad. Paul encouraged believers to rely on God by telling them, ‘It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God.’ (Acts 14v22) The word ‘necessary’ is not there by accident. It means that it is something that we HAvE to go through. Rejoice though because at the end, what do we have? The kingdom of God! ‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, May those who love you prosper’ (Psalm 122v6)

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

dAVId dUlyCarrickfergus RPC


sTEPhEn sTEElEFaughan RPC

the happy christianbook review

Publisher: Thomas NelsonRelease Date: 24 February 2015

Visit our Facebook page for a chance to win an ebook copy of The Happy Christian

IF SOMEONE WHO had never encountered Christianity walked into your home or church, how would they describe the mood? That’s one of the searching questions David Murray asks in a book which, given its neon blue and yellow cover, looks at first glance like just another self-help resource. But behind its frothy exterior comes theological punch as a seminary professor marshals Biblical teaching, scientific research and his own personal experience as a ‘recovering sceptic’ to make the case that the Christian faith has too often been misrepresented by its friends, never mind its enemies. He sets his sights on a siege mentality in the church, where sermons and prayers often sound more like discontented defeatism than inspirational calls to worship and serve. The Bible is the most positive book in the world – but Murray contends that the church has not always been successful in communicating the Bible’s uplifting and inspiring message. The book starts with the good news that both the Bible and scientists agree that happiness is mostly not dependent on our circumstances (studies say only 10%). While 50% is based on genetics that still leaves 40% that we can do something about. But rather than going down the ‘Power of Positive Thinking’ route, Murray says the way to change things is not to believe in yourself more, but to believe in God more. In a chapter on ‘Happy Media’, Murray points out the harmful effects of listening to a stream of negativity. Challengingly, he applies this not just to secular media but to

those who teach God’s Word. The reason a doctor can tell what an unhealthy heart sounds like is that he’s listened to 1000s of healthy ones. In the same way, we should focus more on the truth than innumerable errors and heresies – and spend more time exalting Biblical marriage than highlighting the latest perversion of it. In ‘Happy Salvation’ Murray tries to encourage us to stop being discouraged by never ending to-do lists and rest in our completed salvation provided by a Saviour who has already done it all and tells us: ‘It is finished.’ God has given us a weekly reminder of this in the Sabbath,

which we reject to our peril. In the battle for happiness, involvement in church plays a key role. Murray points to Yahoo’s new CEO Marissa Mayer having banned all telecommuting as the lack of personal contact resulted in more loss than gain. Statistics show that those who attend religious services at least once a week have a 25% higher life expectancy than those who don’t, probably because church attendance increases social support, which is a proven life-extender. Murray also extols ‘Everywhere Grace’, reminding us that we shouldn’t just look for God’s grace in Christians. We shouldn’t

be ashamed to use goods and services provided by non-Christians, or truth discovered by them. This is a book which Murray would admit himself would not have been written if he hadn’t swapped Scotland for America, and he extols our transatlantic cousins’ ability to praise other people. ‘Scots don’t do praise,’ he says; ‘of God sometimes, but never of one another’. He seeks to unmask the sinful reasons behind this and urges us not to wait for one another, our churches or our children to be perfect before we praise them. Murray also sets his sights on the ‘Gimme Generation’ (ie the generation most Messenger readers are part of!) whose failure to give their money and themselves is damaging charity, marriage and work, as well as being a poor witness to the secular world. One of the biggest challenges many people find to being a happy Christian is their work, and Murray devotes a whole chapter to this area, showing that the most mundane job is as valuable as any other if it’s done for Christ. ‘The Lord’s work’ isn’t just something ministers do. The tide of negativity in our thinking, relationships and churches is having a devastating effect, and Murray’s book is a helpful and invigorating corrective. Anyone could benefit from it and CYs or small groups could benefit from discussing and fleshing out some of the issues raised – and then holding each other accountable. Happily, of course!

This is a book which Murray would admit himself would not have been written if he

hadn’t swapped Scotland for America

book review


BIOGRAPHY

SHE SAt BY the fire-side weeping. She felt empty inside as her heart filled with loneliness and gnawing fear. He’d gone. He would never sit again in his favourite chair, never again would she hear his voice asking about her day. Just ten weeks from diagnosis to death. He was her everything, her confidant, best friend, provider, keeper, protector. Her rock – and he’d gone. Psalm 18 is about the rock who never has to leave us. This song was David’s brief biography, penned towards the close of his life. If you had asked this king how he coped when the cords of death encompassed him (v4) he’d have simply said, ‘My Rock’. If you’d enquired how he endured when the enemy was so ferocious (v17) he would have smiled and said, ‘My Rock’. If you’d said, ‘How did you manage to overcome

the unimaginable?’ (v29) you would have received the same reply, ‘My Rock’. If you had probed as to how he managed to face challenge after challenge (v33) or if you had asked about his mighty expanding kingdom (v43) you would have heard once more the same refrain, ‘My Rock’. God’s anointed king was in no doubt that all that he had faced, all that he had achieved and all that he had endured were based upon his unshakeable, unmoveable rock. It was his rock who had heard him (v6), displayed power (v13), sent relief (v17), supported him (v18) and given light in his darkness (v28). But wait a moment. Isn’t this the adulterous murderous David-chap we are talking about? How come the mighty Lord is his rock, helping and strengthening him?

It’s simple. This psalm like all the others is ultimately the song of another king, one greater than David, King Jesus. The cords of death really did encompass him (v5). He went right into the jaws of death. The one who was blameless before God (v23) was the one who was rewarded for his work of laying down his life for sinners (v48). For his reward he received a host of men and women from the nations to sing praises to his name (v49). Yes, you may have to sit by your fireside alone some day. Yes, for a while you may have to be parted from someone very special but the Christian will never have to say, ‘My Rock has gone.’ So why don’t you join a battle-scarred king like David and sing to your Rock, ‘I love you, the LORD, my strength.’?

dAVId mCCUllOUghDromore RPC

MY ROCKpsalm 18

series

LOGOS 6 IS, as the saying goes, more evolution than revolution. The first major release to come in denominational flavours, the different branding affects which resources it comes with, rather than the program’s core functionality. For example Reformed Silver comes with all the Focus on the Bible Commentaries (Dale Ralph Davis etc), the Opening up Commentary Collection (Roger Ellsworth, Iain D. Campbell et al), the 6-volume Puritan Sermons and an Abraham Kuyper collection. Older works by John Calvin, Matthew Henry and Matthew Poole are complemented by books by modern Reformed authors such as Robert Reymond and John Piper (and for those who buy Platinum, David McKay!). This helps to rectify one of my biggest complaints about Logos 5 when many of the bundled resources weren’t ones you might actually use. This latest version doesn’t just give you more resources however, it excels at making sure books you do have are used rather

than forgotten. For example if you type a Biblical reference into the ‘Passage Guide’ it will bring up not just the commentaries you have on it, but pull sermons on the passage out of your library. So rather than the 12-volume Works of Thomas Boston sitting on your shelf looking impressive (but dusty), Logos does the work of pulling up any sermons Boston (or Keller, MacArthur etc) preached on your passage (sermon collections are sold separately). The same is true for journal articles, and soon, letters. The new ‘Factbook’ does a similar job for topics, searching all your Bible dictionaries and more with one click.

One of my favourite new features is ‘Send to Kindle’ which does what it says on the tin. This means that Logos books no longer have to be read on computer or glare-prone tablet screens. Footnotes and linked Bible references are preserved, and your reading progress is kept in sync by Amazon. Another simple but hugely helpful feature is ‘Inline Search’ which makes searching an open resource faster and easier. At the advanced end of the scale, the Propositional Outline feature applies the principles of discourse analysis to provide a propositional outline of any New testament passage. Logos is now 64-bit which should make it run faster on more modern computers, but it will still ask a lot of your hardware. The cost remains prohibitive but the world’s leading Bible software just took another step forward. Logos software is available to purchase from this link. The edition featured in this review costs £645.

Logos 6 Reformed Silver software review sTEPhEn sTEElEFaughan RPC


When is this phrase used? The phrase ‘fencing the table’ refers to the communion table – when Christians eat bread and drink wine, as commanded by Jesus (Luke 22:14-23), to remember and proclaim his death on the cross and what it achieved.

Where does it come from and what does it mean? The Book of Government and Order for the RPCI (often referred to as ‘the Code’) says about communion: “The minister shall read the scriptural authority for the observance of the sacrament e.g. 1 Corinthians 11:23-28. The minister shall ‘Fence the table’ from an appropriate portion of Scripture, and read the terms of Membership; solemn words of warning shall be spoken to intending communicants [i.e. those taking communion] urging them to careful self-examination and deep searching of heart lest they should eat and drink unworthily and so sin against ‘the body and blood of the Lord’; words of loving invitation and encouragement shall be given to those who are conscious of their sinfulness, are truly repentant, place their trust on the atonement and intercession of Jesus Christ, love Him as their Saviour, desire to commemorate His death and pledge themselves anew to His service.” Here the Code sums up why the minister’s words at this stage of the service are compared to a ‘fence’ – like a fence they’re intended to keep out those who shouldn’t be there and keep in those who should. A warning should be given that communion is not for those who are not Christians, or who are Christians but are living lives of open and unrepentant sin, or who have not carefully examined their own lives (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). A welcome should be given to those who are trusting in Jesus’ death on the cross for their forgiveness and are members with a good reputation in their congregation. The minister should make this clear by what he says when he ‘fences the table’.

When should we use it? ‘Fencing the table’ is not a phrase that we find in our Bibles or that we necessarily need to use ourselves – but the principle behind the phrase is Biblical and is vital. Churches dishonour Jesus and His death and the remembrance meal that He has given us when they allow non-Christians or Christians who are living lives of open sinfulness to take communion.

PETER lOUghRIdgENorth Edinburgh RPC


HAvE YOu EvER been affected by advertising? Has an advertisement made you want to buy something? Go somewhere? Do something? Well, the answer is Yes. Advertising can be used in a positive way and, moreover, is needed for a large number of different outlets: generic products (to show what Heinz tomato ketchup is made from or to tell you that milk is on special offer), road safety

(demonstrating the effects of not wearing your seatbelt or drinking while you drive), causes (billboards that display the horrors of human trafficking or that give information on pro-life centres), information (showing the times and dates of church meetings or special services). Advertisements can affect us in a positive or negative way. Among other things advertisements can communicate a message to us that encourages us to change

our minds or make us feel bad about ourselves. There are various examples of negative advertisements – the provocative poses, the photo-shopped bodies etc. We’ve all seen these and know how damaging they are to the way we view other people and how we see ourselves. Consider three specific brands and the negative impact these advertisements could have on Christians:

“Anywhere a person looks, he will always see some form of advertisement… to inform people about the existence of a certain

product or service…and seek to communicate a message to society” Krina Modi

A Consumer WorldHow should Christians engage with popular culture and advertising?

mcdonalds: This is advertising food that can be bad for us. Obesity is a growing medical condition in this country and gluttony is something that we can find hard to control. Even glancing at these advertisements makes us salivate.

mAx shoes: : These advertisements show a designer shoe collection. They are funny and eye-catching – you have to look twice before you really see what’s going on. However, it can make us want to go shopping and buy these shoes that we probably don’t need.

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temptation faces us at every turn but God alone is to be treasured and worshipped by his people. We need to be aware of negative advertising and be able to counteract it in our Christian lives. We must realise that billions of bits of information travel in and around our heads everyday that we know nothing about. What we watch affects us. What we read affects us. What we give our time to will, eventually, affect us

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15

When we love the world, we listen to advertising that tells us that God is not enough and we become discontented. We know that is wrong and yet, on a daily basis, we can wish that we had that happy meal, a different collection of shoes or someone else’s car. Fixing our eyes on Jesus is the only way we can be content in any circumstance. “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” Philippians 4:12

The world has left its mark on us. Even before we were born, we were filled with sin and contaminated by it. If everything we take in affects us, how should we respond to popular culture in the forms of media, internet, sports or food?

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”Psalm 51:5

MediaIn terms of evangelism, watching tv and movies can be a great way to spend time with non-Christians friends; it can suggest talking points and provide common areas of interest. However, it is clear that many tv shows are full of bad language and low morals. Likewise, there are many benefits to listening to music. We can use it to relax, to motivate or provide another common interest to talk to others about favourite artists, etc. However, we are warned time and again of how rude, wrong and meaningless certain lyrics are. It’s hard to be talking to one of our non-Christian friends about the problem of living with their significant other or taking God’s name in vain when, as soon as the conversation ends, we are running back to our bedrooms to watch an episode or listen to a song that glorifies that very thing.

Internet Maybe you have used your social media account to post up a status about your personal faith or a Bible verse or two. This can be great and may be a stark contrast to the rest of your news feed. It may be the only Bible verse that some of your friends ever read. Some of us should be challenged to do more of it. However, for others the internet portrays us differently with the

photos that we’re tagged in or the websites in our history. Maybe/probably we spend more time on the internet than we do with God. A quick review of totalling up the minutes spent on our daily Bible-study against the hours poured into thinking of a clever comeback or scrolling through our newsfeed should shed some light on the situation. In 2008, the Atheist bus advert campaign declared, ‘There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.’ This direct message shocks us but is it any different than the message we take in and give out through our use of the internet?

Sport No one needs to be told about the different benefits of playing sport. It is a great way of spending time with non-

Christians. Any of you who work in a team will know the close-knit relationships that often come with it. An example can be set by commitment to practices and matches, the language NOt used and attitudes towards the coach/referee. However, for some of you, sport will not be a “field” where your light shines. It may be a place that Satan causes you to lose your temper or be taken over by pride/gossip.

Food Food has been given for us to enjoy. We see Jesus’ example of how we can get to know someone through eating a meal with them and sharing our food with others. However, it can be abused and idolised. We can make ourselves depend upon it to lift our moods or determine whether we are thankful or not. “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” 1 Peter 2:11

How should we advertise our lives within popular culture? We are all different. What one of us enjoys for a while and then can stop after a healthy amount of time, others of us cannot. While one person can use an avenue such as media, internet, sport or food as a great way to share their faith and influence popular culture, others will realise that it is an activity that causes them, or, worse, their brother in Christ, to stumble and fall. Most of us will have multiple opportunities to proclaim the Gospel to someone for the very first time. We must embrace this privilege, proclaiming God’s message in a tone that people recognise. We must pray that our friends, colleagues and neighbours will understand that Jesus is the only one who can satisfy them and is King over every aspect of life.

Volkswagen: This is an advertisement that is designed to make us want a new lifestyle. It offers adventure, excitement and a chance to ‘get away from it all’. It wants us to believe that this car will add to our self-worth and increase our quality of life

ElEAnOR mCCOllUmCloughmills RPCThis article has been compiled from a seminar given at Gartmore 2014

the Atheist Bus Campaign message shocks us and makes us feel uncomfortable, but is it any

different than the message we take in (and give out) everyday?


The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armiesfilm review

The final instalment of Peter Jackson’s epic three-part adaptation of JRR tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is just that: epic. From sweeping, majestic landscapes, to intense battles and deep character development, Jackson has led us all on a fantastic journey to Middle Earth and back again across the span of not only “The Hobbit” but “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy as well. A bit like Bilbo Baggins, everyone’s favourite titular Hobbit, we’re probably all in need of second breakfast, a nap, and a handkerchief after the completion of this marathon. “Battle of the Fives Armies” covers the final chapters of “The Hobbit”, from the awakening of Smaug (the dragon). Purists may cry out against the many additions to the original text, and the not-so-subtle links to the LOtR trilogy, however these

are tastefully and intelligently done. Jackson’s hands are safe hands and he really has, through unrivalled casting, setting and an exceptional team of costume, props and CGI designers, brought Middle Earth to life on the silver screen. Howard Shore has once again composed a beautiful score, finished perfectly by Billy Boyd’s “The Last Goodbye” (I challenge you not to get emotional), all of which complement the action and the LOtR film scores quite wonderfully.

For those of you unfamiliar with the story of “The Hobbit”, one of the main characters is Thorin Oakenshield, leader of the band of dwarves and displaced King under the Mountain. Thorin cuts an impressive figure (even though he is a dwarf ) and has a commanding presence, inspiring the loyalty and friendship of his men and Bilbo. But when confronted with the dragon’s hoard in the Lonely Mountain, he begins to lose sight of the bigger picture and, to a certain extent, loses himself in his obsessive, all consuming passion for wealth - in particular, the Arkenstone: the King’s jewel. Thus, his friends watch him

succumb slowly to the so called “dragon sickness”. What dragon sicknesses can exist in our lives? What distracts us from our goal, our focus on Christ, making us forget who we really are? Or, perhaps we can see this happening in the lives of our nearest and dearest. In this case, we are called to be as Bilbo is to Thorin, a friend who does not shy away from speaking hard truths in humility and love to guide back to the straight and narrow. Whatever the sin that holds us back, whatever the distraction that consumes us in the place of Christ and the Gospel, we must fight against it, with the aid of our Lord and Saviour, and the support of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Do not let the dragon sicknesses of this world creep in, stealing joy and peace, but instead let us focus on Jesus. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

What distracts us from our goal, our focus on Christ, making us forget who we

really are?

hElEn mCKElVEyCullybackey RPC


tHE MODERN tREND of cinema is to retell well-known stories from a new perspective. Last year Dracula Untold and Maleficent related the stories of traditional villains, Hercules made a man of the myth, and Into the Woods dispelled the fairy-tale notion of “happy ever after”. The Bible has not escaped this desire to reinterpret stories. Darren Aronofsky’s Noah is a prime example of this. It brought the Biblical story of the Flood to the big screen but the Hollywood treatment has never been limited by historical or theological accuracy. Ridley Scott’s Exodus: Gods and Kings is another such film. Let me begin by stating that Exodus (terrible subtitle aside) is an enjoyable film to watch. It has all the epic magnitude to be expected from the director of Gladiator, and it tells the compelling story of a brooding exile who returns to his homeland to free his enslaved people. The plagues are presented with stark and gruesome realism, with a humorous performance from Ewen Bremner as the Egyptian “expert” who attempts to explain them away as perfectly natural phenomena. The battle scenes are exciting and the dramatic Red Sea crossing is a stunning climax. visually the film is impressive. The main focus of the film is the relationship between Moses and the Pharaoh Ramses, brothers-in-arms turned mortal enemies. Or at least it tries to be. The most important relationship in the life of Moses was always his relationship with God, and despite the filmmaker’s intent, it is still this relationship which is most striking. In the 1956 film The Ten Commandments

God is presented as a great booming voice in the sky (actor uncredited). In Exodus God is portrayed by the 11-year-old Isaac Andrews. The film tries to distance itself from saying that the boy is God by giving him the name “Malak” (angel), but it is very clear God is speaking through him (when Moses asks who he is, he responds: “I Am!”). The Biblical Moses was made a leader by God. The Moses in Exodus was chosen by God because he was a born leader. The Biblical Moses was a messenger sent by God to Pharaoh. In the film Moses becomes a terrorist and tries to free the Israelites through guerrilla warfare. The Bible tells us very clearly that God was in complete control of every aspect of freeing his people. Yet in the film God (or perhaps I should say “Malak”) only steps in after accusing Moses of taking too long. The plagues rain down on Egypt without explanation and Moses is disgusted by them. Not surprising when you consider the righteous anger of God sounds like a petulant temper tantrum when voiced by a small child. When the final plague arrives Moses rushes to Ramses, not as a messenger from God, but to warn him of the impending peril. Moses guides the Israelites away from Egypt using guesswork, and it is only at the very last moment that God steps in to allow the people to cross the Red Sea. The character of Moses is very much the modern man. He scoffs at the Egyptian gods and the Hebrew One-true-God alike, and it is only when God reveals himself that he believes. Even after this revelation Moses still advises his son to never believe

anything without personal proof. How sad to even entertain the notion that a man who has spoken with God would allow his own son to continue in unbelief. Exodus depicts a wholly corrupted view of the Creator of all things. It is the Biblical story of Moses told from an agnostic, all-inclusive worldview which will allow for the existence of a God, but not a relevant God. God is a very real character in the film, and a powerful force to be reckoned with, but nowhere is he given any true reverence. In fact the whole dynamic between God and Moses is warped. It is summed up in one of the final scenes, where the ten Commandments are written. First take note: Moses carves them into the stone tablets. Malak tells Moses that he should only do so if he agrees with them, remarking that he has noticed this is not always the case. Their relationship is one of dialogue. This is sadly a view held by many people today. Historical films and biopics have always been criticised for their inaccuracies. This is an unavoidable part of storytelling. Exodus: Gods and Kings takes many liberties with the story of Moses, mostly for the sake of drama, but none as detrimental as its depiction of God. I hope that the film will serve to introduce many to the story of Moses, and give them an interest in reading the source material. But without any context or correction it is mere entertainment, with no spiritual value.

Exodus: gods and kingsfilm review

CAmEROn mCCAUlEyCloughmills RPC


WE HAvE ALL seen the recent devastation which Ebola has caused in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. As of 27/1/15 there have been 21,924 total cases and 8737 deaths across these three countries. I was privileged to be able to return to Sierra Leone to work along with Concern Worldwide for two months during November and December as part of their emergency Ebola response in tonkolili District. Concern Worldwide has worked in Sierra Leone since the civil war in 1996, initially providing humanitarian response before transitioning to development. It has provided a range of humanitarian response actions to the current Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone and Liberia www.concern.net/ebola . This response has included:

• trainingofcommunityhealthworkers• provision of Infection Prevention andControl (IPC) supplies and training staff at primary health care units across Freetown and tonkolili District• supporting quality of care and safetyfor staff and patients at 13 community care centres in tonkolili District• supporting safe and dignified burialsfor approximately half of all burials within Freetown• support for the command centres inFreetown and tonkolili District• supporting HIV positive patients tocontinue to receive their drugs at home • advocating for a radio educationprogramme for school children during the closure of all schools. I had previously spent a year working in Sierra Leone with Concern on several health programmes and so when the number of cases of Ebola started to rise and after a time of prayer I was keen to be able to return and join with colleagues and friends in responding to the outbreak. My role with Concern Worldwide was to work together with the District Health Management team to coordinate training for health workers, volunteers, support staff and community members in infection prevention and control, providing these staff with potentially life-saving skills. Each Health unit received a kit containing vital infection prevention and control supplies and equipment. After the kits were delivered to the health units our teams trained clinic staff to be able to screen all patients and visitors arriving at their clinic, enabling them to identify any potential suspected Ebola patient and how to safely isolate any suspected patient

separate from staff and other non-suspected patients, how to safely put on and take off Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when entering the isolation area and how to clean safely. Involving community stakeholders during the training helps to ensure community participation in monitoring screening, construction of isolation spaces and other infection prevention control activities. In addition, these community leaders can share knowledge about the training with their communities so that people know that the clinic is a ‘safe zone’, therefore encouraging attendance. We hope this will contribute to an improvement in the rates of people attending the health facility for other routine health care in the future. I was very grateful to have been supported in prayer by my church in Liverpool (St James in the City) and by Ballyclabber Reformed Presbyterian Church and beyond. Knowing that people back at home were praying was a real encouragement. I would ask that you please continue to pray for those affected by Ebola in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. I give thanks for the recent reduction in the number of cases and would ask you to pray that cases will reduce to zero and for the rebuilding of these countries as they tackle the challenges left behind as a result of the destruction caused by Ebola.

current

Reflections from my time in Sierra Leone

Concern health officers demonstrate how to put on and take off personal protective

equipment during infection prevention control training in Tonkolili District

ROzI mCCOllUmBallyclabber RPC


Help a far-away church by proclaiming the gospel in its neighbourhood...

Serve. Proclaim. Disciple.www.RPMissions.org

...and gain boldness in Sharing good news at home.

RP Missions team member Danielle Berny with a member of KidZone, run by Covenant Fellowship RP Church (Pittsburgh, Pa. USA). This weekly club provides Bible instruction and a meal to local children in its inner-city neigh-bourhood. RP Missions helps with both KidZone and summer vacation Bible school.

2015 LocationsAtlanta, GeorgiA, USA • Australia • Costa Rica • Cincin-nati, OHio, USA • Cyprus • Enid & Stillwater, OKlahoma, USA • France • Germany • Japan • N. Ireland (2 locations: Belfast & Carnlough) • Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniA, USA • Scotland • Seattle, WAshington, USA • Taiwan • Ugan-da • Washington, IowA, USA • White Lake, New York, USA

Teachers needed in South Sudan and Uganda

RP Missions is the short-term missions organization of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. We seek to encourage Reformed churches and help Chris-tians grow in faith and maturity through service to Christ’s Church around the world.


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Designed to inform, edify, unite, and encourage Reformed Presbyterians and those interested in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. Subscribe online at rpwitness.org. For group or print subscriptions, email [email protected].

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