Tonight I wish to begin looking back. Being here fills my mind with memories. I began life here in Stornoway under the ministry of the Rev Kenneth MacRae. He was a man who loved the Free Church, its Confession and Its Constitution. He was forthright and unashamed of what he believed. Everyone knew where he stood. I respected him for it. In my teenage years my minister was Rev Murdo MacRitchie. He was a different man who made his own impact on mt life. He too knew what he believed. There was no doubting where these men stood.
When I left home to study in Aberdeen I discovered there was more to the Free Church than the Island of Lewis. I thoroughly enjoyed the ministry of the Rev Douglas MacMillian. There were differences in culture between the students from the Highlands and those from the Lowlands. Yet we got on well together. I found the same in Edinburgh when i studied divinity there. For almost twenty years of my ministry, the thought of a split in the Church never entered my head. The experimental religion of the Highlands and the, perhaps, more practical religion of the Lowlands, complemented one another. We were all united by our ordination vows and our unqualified subscription to the Confession of Faith.
The last year or two, however, has seen a dramatic change in the Free Church. Perhaps the problems were brewing under the surface for some time but it is only know thet are coming out. Tonight I would rather not touch on personalities because the Free Church Defence Association is not concerned so much with persons as with principles. We must look at the situation more broadly. I would like, first, to outline some of the problems which have arisen over the last few years. Secondly, to consider the last General Assembly which, for me at least, has been a major turning-point. Finally, to indicate the way ahead and the battle we have to fight.
a. General Problems: First of all let us look at the more general problems and then turn to consider the specifics. Would we not all agree that there is a lack of spirituality in our Free Church today? People are so busy that they have little time for God. Work was never more demanding. Our homes, finances, cars, dress, hobbies and our holidays fill our time and push God out. Telephone, television and computers bring their own pressures. Weeks and months race by. We have many time-saving devices and yet are unable to redeem the time. Christ says to us that we cannot serve God and mammon yet we try to do so (Matt. 6:24). Paul warns us of a day when "men will be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof" (2 Tim. 3:4-5). Surely this is the sort of day in which we are living. How does it evidence itself?
1. I remember in my youth how the churches were packed at communion times and that irrespective of the preacher. Things are very different now. There is no longer that hunger for the gospel or for Christian fellowship. People's energy is absorbed with their homes, their families and their jobs.
2. The prayer meeting used to be a "must" for all Christians. You had to have a very good reason for missing it. You would be afraid that people noticed your absence. But also you loved to be there. You often received a blessing for your soul as one of the brethren led in prayer. After the meeting you would gather for fellowship at the house of some like-minded believer. It is not like that any more.
3. Do you remember when sermons touched your heart? You were moved to tears. You felt God's presence. It thrilled you. Your religion was not one of mere traditions, nor ritual, nor simply beliefs and practices. It was experiencing God and rejoicing in his presence. Now you are seldom warmed in your heart in this way.
4. From time to time we hear complaints that Christians are not as generous as they should be to the Lord's cause. Our Church struggles with a deficit and givings have dropped. People were never richer but we have different priorities. We have become covetous and selfish and have absorbed the spirit of the age. The needs of the Church, the mission field and the poor, are secondary.
5. We think back to godly men and women whom we knew. The present generation does not come up to their level. There was a personal holiness, a prayerfulness, an evangelistic zeal and a fear of God that we do not see today. Not only is it true in the world but also in the Church, that every man does that which is right in his own eyes (Judg. 21:25)
All these matters should give us concern. They are symptoms of a deep underlying problem. Our relationship with God is not what it ought to be. We are backslidden. God has been grieved and has withdrawn His Spirit from us. He demands repentance from us before He will return to us.
b. Specific Problems: I would like now to look at more specific problems.
1. Serious allegations had been made against a certain minister and witnesses were prepared to come forward. The 1995 Assembly, however, refused to look at any of the evidence and, on the basis simply of the recommendation of a majority of a committee, found that there was "no evidence capable of proof." Perhaps, if the case had been tried, the individual would have been cleared. Sadly it was left to the criminal courts to handle it, with the resultant bad publicity for our Church. Really, there seemed to be a fear of facing the issue and of handling it properly according to the laws of our Church. The result is that the Assembly, Church Courts and disciplinary procedure have lost respect.
2. Ministers and other Church members call one another the most scurrilous names both in the public press and elsewhere, eg., liars, conspirators, ayatollahs, nazis, hounds of death. No one seems able to do anything about it. The hatred behind these terms is not the spirit of love of which Christ talks when he says, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (Jn. 13:35).
3. Ministers and others are using the press as their great ally in these conflicts with their brethren in the Church. We have seen something of the power of the media in this whole affair. Misinformation and half-truths have been circulated on a large scale. The media, however, are not often the friends of genuine Christianity.
4. There is a problem among ministers and elders with regard to their ordination vows. Before you can become a minister or elder you must promise: "I do sincerely own and believe the whole doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith...to be the truths of God and I do own the same to be the confession of my faith." Is it right then at a later date to start introducing qualifications? Our ministers must also promise that to the utmost of their power they will, "assert, maintain and defend the purity of worship as presently practised in this Church." Is it right, having been made an office-bearer or minister to question the Church's practice in worship?
5. We have a further problem in our Church with the appearance of Free Concern. This was an organisation composed of representatives of every presbytery. Its agenda was not clear. They have spoken of reforming the style of worship in the Free Church, empowering the people and increasing congregational freedom and variety. At their recent pre-Assembly rally, was it not rather provocative of their Chairman, knowing the concerns of some in the Church about "purity of worship", to sing a song to the accompaniment of his guitar? The word "Free" in their name gave a hint of the direction in which they wished to go. Recently they announced that they have disbanded. However, their Chairman made plain that it was not the end of their campaign. "It should not be thought that this is the end of our concern or even the beginning of the end. At the recent General Assembly it was seen that Free Concern represented the views of the mainstream majority of the Church so there is no need for the seperate existence of Free Concern" (WHFP 6.6.97). Having control of the main Committees of the Church, the Free Concern party now feel able to carry on their programme of change through its existing structures.
For me this has been the turning-point. I was told about the formation of the Free Church Defence Association before the Assembly but refused to give my support to it because I still hoped that the courts of our Church would see sense and begin the process of sorting out the confusion which we are in. How wrong I was! Today our troubles are worse than ever.
The deliberations of the Assembly got off to a very bad start. The Ecumenical Relations Committee proposed the setting up of a Millennium Committee which would commemorate the events of 1900 and mark the new Millennium. It was also proposed that Professor Cartwright be the convener as he had so ably chaired the committee which commemorated the events of 1843. The Rev K Macleod (Barvas) at the Assembly expressed his unhappiness with the proposed convener. He moved, and it was agreed by a majority, that Professor J L Mackay be the convener. It was strange that Professor Mackay allowed his name to go forward, considering that he was part of the Ecumenical Relations Committee which had proposed Professor Cartwright. Several of the members of Assembly, feeling hurt at this slight to Professor Cartwright, dissented from the Assembly's decision. To add insult to injury, Professor Mackay declared their dissent "frivolous". So, from the start, it was obvious that every opportunity was going to be used to seek to humiliate those who were perceived as being on "the other side". Many snide comments were made.
However, by far the most serious decision taken by this Assembly, was that which it took in response to Reports from the Training of the Ministry Committee (TOM). One of the duties of the TOM is to oversee the College Professors. In the last year the TOM had received a number of letters of complaint about a Professor. Conscious of the sensitive and controversial nature of the problem, a group on the TOM (Professor Hugh Cartwright, the Rev Angus Smith and Dr Murdoch Murchison) asked the Assembly that a Special Committee be set up to examine and respond to these letters. Was this a terrible crime? Surely letters from worried members of the Church should be given serious consideration. Another group on the TOM, however, expressed the belief that the men asking for this Special Committee had acted in contempt of the General Assembly, and were raising again matters with which the 1995 Assembly had dealt. But no proof of this was provided to the 1997 Assembly.
While Professor Cartwright lay sick in bed and was unable to present his own case, the General Assembly, without producing charges, or providing evidence, or allowing the three men concerned to answer the accusations raised in the debate, found them guilty of acting in contempt of the General Assembly, censured them for it and removed them from membership of the Group 2 Committees. Dr Murchison was present but was only allowed to speak at the beginning of the debate. The Rev Alex MacDonald, using the Rev Professor Clement Graham's description of fellow ministers at the 31st October Commission of last year, said that it was time the "hounds of death" were brought to heel. We have a wonderful disciplinary procedure in our Blue Book but it was ignored. From now on, are we to expect discipline to be carried out by majority votes of the General Assembly on the basis of Committee recommendations with the individual being unable to defend himself or to reply to his accusers?
An attempt was made by the Principal Clerk to argue that "censure" did not mean censure. He moved that censure be explained as to "express strong displeasure at the action of" the three individuals concerned. It makes no difference what words are used. It was certainly a rebuke. But more than that, the men were punished. They were removed from the Committees in disgrace. Further, to be in "contempt" of the Assembly is a very serious fault. It is impossible to think of a more circumspect minister than Professor Hugh Cartwright. He has loved and respected the Free Church with all his heart all his life. He has been sarcastically accused by some of being the "arch-constitutionalist". How strange that he, of all men, should be condemned for being in contempt of the Assembly! The Rev Angus Smith and Dr Murdoch Murchison are two senior office-bearers of the Church and it is sad that at this stage of their lives, the Church, which they have so faithfully served all these years, should now publicly humiliate them.
A petition was presented to the Assembly by a large number of ministers and elders. It asked that in future, accusations made by fellow Church members should be made before the appropriate Church body or withdrawn, and when made in the proper form they should be dealt with according to the practice of the Church. It did not seem to be asking a great deal. Some of us are getting used to seeing ourselves called "conspirators", "liars", "hounds", etc., by fellow Church members in the media. Was it too much to ask our Church to stop this? Obviously yes, because the petition was rejected. The green light is now given to anyone who wishes to publicly slander his brethren.
Some men from opposing sides of the Church, feeling the need to try to bring the Church together and to talk over our differences, asked that a forum be set up, headed by the Moderator, where matters of dispute in doctrine and practice could be dealt with. This, too, was rejected. Several speakers, in arguing against the forum, made plain the contempt in which they held their brethren. The Rev Alex MacDonald said the forum was a complainer's charter, "open season for every crank and complainer." He announced that he was going back to his congregation to preach Christ, and threatened, "Woe betide anyone who gets in my way."
The Nominations Committee has the duty of selecting the membership of our Church Committees, based largely on Presbyteries' recommendations. This year they largely disregarded the nominations of the majority of Presbyteries, and put forward for the Committees of the Church those who were perceived as being in sympathy with the liberalising party. The rest of us will now no longer be allowed to play a part in the decision-making processes of our Church. While talking of a broad Church they want one no broader than themselves. I fear that this Assembly has taken an irreversible step away from our rich heritage. Where is the Free Church going?
First, let me say that none of us wants the Free Church to split. Many of us were born into the Free Church, baptised in it, trained up in it, converted in it, professed faith in it, edified in it and some of us ordained to office in it. We love our Church with all our heart and have served it up till now to the best of our ability. However, we love Christ more than we love the Free Church. If our Church has become corrupt, if it persecutes godly men, if it moves away from its constitution and Confession, it no longer deserves our support. Personally I would rather be a beggar on the streets than continue to take a salary from a Church that was rotten to the core and oppressing the righteous. If the Free Church becomes a hindrance to the gospel we are better without it. We have not yet reached this point. Let us stand to defend our Church and its Constitution.
1. Confession of sin. God is obviously grieved with us. His wrath is against us as a Church. We are no longer seeing blessing but rather our troubles have been multiplying. Let us search our own hearts before God and repent for what is wrong. Let us turn from idols, pride, covetousness, deceitfulness, bad temper, lovelessness and worldly pleasures. Let us devote ourselves totally to Christ in godliness, faith and love.
2. Knowledge is important. Let us study God's Word and read good books, including our Confession. We need the help of God's Spirit to apply the Bible to ourselves, our Church and the world. Our attitude must not be simply one of conserving our traditions. We must constantly be reforming in the light of Scripture and we must proclaim the old-fashioned gospel in relevant ways.
3. Treat others with respect - even those with whom we strongly disagree. Calling people names or using derogatory adjectives with regard to them is hardly the Christian thing to do. The Bible encourages us to love our enemies and that includes those who slander us.
4. Value and preserve the purity of worship which we have as a Church. There is no better hymn book than the God-given Psalms, inspired by the Holy Spirit. No other portion of Scripture is so rich in Christian experiences. There is a depth in the Psalms that no mere human book has. How often we have found encouragement and comfort in them! The simplicity of unaccompanied singing fits in well with the "spirit and truth" worship of which Christ speaks (Jn. 4:24). We do not see any musical instruments used in New Testament worship.
5. Presbyterianism is, we believe, the Biblical form of Church government. When properly applied, our Church procedures bear comparison with any other and bring great blessing. O that we would rejoice in our heritage!
6. We must be evangelistically concerned. Christ sent His Church out with the gospel to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). The masses are perishing. We have the message through which they can be saved. We must, with zeal and enthusiasm, reach out to the lost. However, at the same time we must trust in God. We cannot convert one soul. The new birth is God's work. Entertainment evangelism and other ways not sanctioned in God's Word, of tempting and pressurising people into becoming Christians, must be rejected by us.
7. Do not worry over much at what the media say about us. We ought to fear rather when they praise us. Fear not the face of any man. Many of our opponents are far cleverer and more powerful than we. But if we are trusting in the Lord we need not be afraid (Rom. 8:31). Fear God and remember that we must all soon give our account to Him. Trust God and realise that He will defend our reputation.
8. Seek the unity and peace of God's Church, but make sure that it is a unity based on truth and justice. Peace at all costs is compromise. Yes, there must be a certain breadth within the Church. There are many areas left to the liberty of every man's conscience. We have happily tolerated a variety of opinions on many subjects in the past and that was good. But there are some areas which are not negotiable. Where God has spoken we must obey, and solemn vows must be kept.
9. The answer to our present crisis is to be found in God. He alone is able to sort out the present confusion. We must pray to Him to come and save us. We need to pray earnestly and persistently, "O that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down" (Is. 64:1). With Habakkuk we plead, "O Lord revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known: in wrath remember mercy" (Hab. 3:2).
10. Remember the great promise of Christ, "I will build my Church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). The Church will always have enemies. Satan is at work. The thought of the opposition can crush and depress us. But, remember, it is Christ who builds His Church and nothing can thwart His plans. One day it will be a perfect Church without spot or wrinkle. And it will be a great Church which no man can number. If we are on Christ's side, we are on the winning side. The kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever (Rev. 11:15).