The confused and sadly would appear to be ‘concealed’ events taking place with the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, has been reported by the BBC as being linked to ‘child abuse’.
“A series of ‘serious and significant failings’ in safeguarding in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is a ‘watershed moment’ for the church, a child abuse expert has said.
On Thursday, the PSNI said there were ongoing discussions with the church to ensure mechanisms are in place to support anyone who wishes to report abuse.
Failings in safeguarding within the church between 2009 and 2022 were disclosed on Wednesday leading to its moderator stepping down.
Jim Gamble, who headed up the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) police command, said there should be a ‘root and branch’ independent inquiry to ‘ensure congregations are safe’.
The church carried out an internal report, which has not been published.”
(Safeguarding failings ‘watershed moment’ for church, child abuse expert says)
The whole sorry mess is something the Free Presbyterian Church should note and tremble at. Keeping wickedness at bay is no easy thing.
Apostolic
The apostolic churches were frequently infiltrated by those bent on corrupting the truth of the gospel and the morals of the saints. Events in the Corinthian church, as is evident from Paul’s stern disciplinary dealings with that church, by way of his first epistle to it, indicates the dangers faced. Jude’s epistle likewise reveals the activities of the enemy back then.
The events in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland are alarming and should serve as a warning to us. I am especially concerned for our church because of the very evident lowering of the need to maintain strict discipline within our congregations.
There are ministers, Kirk Sessions and occupants of positions of leadership within the Presbytery itself, who show a very evident reluctance to exercise Biblical discipline when the need arises.
Instead, there is evidence of a ‘spirit of partisanship’, a fear of offending some should scriptural discipline be exercised, and, above all, a ‘disinclination’ to be seen agreeing with anyone who may have raised the issue that sin is not being dealt with by those who are duty bound, before God, to act against such!
As it is at present, there are those who are permitted to stand up in our pulpits and who, by their very presence, violate the professed stand of our church.
There are those who hold office in our denomination and who openly support the Democratic Unionist Party in its pro-sodomite stance and its other serious errors. Every attempt to have the matter dealt with is stymied by those whose duty before God, and the responsibility they took on when they swore their ordination oaths, is to act against such sin!
Sad Change
The attitude toward maintaining the public testimony of our denomination and its obedience to the stand to which it was called by the Lord ,in 1951, has greatly changed over the last quarter of a century and more.
“Thus saith the Lord” is no longer the ‘shibboleth’ by which our actions are decided. No, it is as it was with the spirit and attitude of those referred to in John 12:42-43.
“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
That ‘spirit’ is very evident today, to those with eyes to see!
The ‘witness of the protest’ has almost totally ceased to be heard.
I do not think these observations can be gainsaid!
Open to attack
That being so then we are very open to an attack of the kind now shaming the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. That which is referred as being the state of the church in the days of the Psalmist, most certainly may be applied to us today!
“Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her? The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it,” Psalm 80:12-13.
The gaps and breaches in the ‘hedge’ of separation that was once around us, is evident to any honest observer. We are therefore very open, due to this lapse in watchfulness, to being infiltrated much more easily by those agents of the devil who long to spread corruption and shame.
Such a ‘falling away’ within our ranks has costs us the protection of the Lord. He withdraws His protection from those who show such indifference to matters of truth and holiness!
Heed the words also found in the Psalm 80, already referred to.
“Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; and the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved,” Psalm 80:14-19.
Where there are ‘gaps and breaches’, there will be unwanted intruders entering and foolish wanderers going astray.
Any farmer will tell you that!
May the Lord in mercy to the Free Presbyterian Church awaken our ministers and elders to the threats carelessness and backsliding has made us open to.
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
14th November 2025