Ten days ago, I submitted to the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ this response to a second letter from an NSPCC’s official’s attack upon the Bible.
It has not been published in the newspaper as of today!
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster
(My letter to the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ in response)
Dear Editor,
I note that Caroline Cunningham, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, NSPCC Northern Ireland, has made no response to my letter while replying to Dr Birnie’s letter.
Physical punishment of children has no place in today’s society – the Northern Ireland Assembly must act now to remove outdated law
Her reply contains no reference whatever to the Law of God to which I referred.
Might I suggest she should tell the public why experts, ever given to rescinding, changing and abandoning their ‘opinions’ most frequently, having to change because time displays their errors and mistakes, should be heeded rather than the Lord on the matter of disciplining children?
The first Person in the Godhead is the FATHER.
Bearing such a name, He is described in the answer to the 7th question of the Larger Catechism, as being ‘infinite in being, all-sufficient, unchangeable, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.’
That being so, would He not know how children should be disciplined better than any mortal being?
Perhaps Caroline Cunningham could tell us why she ‘out-ranks’ God in knowledge and wisdom, and why she should become the authority on this vital subject, rather than the Word of God?
Sincerely,
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
Kilskeery, Co. Tyrone
8th May 2026
By Rev Samuel Fitton Minister of Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church
In June 1872, Charles Haddon Spurgeon preached on the words of 1st Kings 18:40. In his introduction, he made the remark that “unholy compromises are the fashion of the day.” He went on to describe some of the specific issues facing biblical Christianity at that time. Although almost 154 years have passed since those words were uttered from the pulpit of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, nothing has changed. If anything, such unholy compromises are even more popular today!
It is the duty of a minister of the Gospel, as a watchman, to warn the people of God about such things lest they be led astray into error.
“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.” (Ezekiel 33:6-7)
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2nd Timothy 4:1-2)
Therefore, the purpose of this article is to warn Christians about the “unholy compromises” of the upcoming March For Jesus that is to be held in Belfast on May 16th 2026. So, in considering this event, I want to set three questions before you:
I. WHAT IS MARCH FOR JESUS?
The official website describes it as follows: “March for Jesus Belfast is a large-scale, non-political, family-friendly public event celebrating the Christian faith. The event brings together churches and Christians from across the land in worship, prayer, and public testimony to exalt the Name of Jesus Christ in the heart of Belfast.”
This description immediately reveals the ecumenical nature of the event as it desires to bring churches and ‘Christians’ together for worship, prayer and public testimony. One advertising video by Pastor Ryan Penn of Island Church, Londonderry further encourages such unity and the setting aside of differences. This is the language of ecumenism, by which I mean the setting aside of biblical doctrine and separation in order to create a visible outward unity. (more…)
What is sad is that the supporters of the bill, who would make legal this ungodly and heathen practice, have vowed to continue campaigning for its acceptance.
‘Supporters said they would not give up and were confident the legislation would return in the next session of Parliament, which will begin on 13 May.’
This is what the departure from the Word of God, led by ecumenists and liberals in the professing Church of Christ, has brought the nation to!
The enemies of truth do not give up in their campaigning to destroy truth and have the ‘lie of the devil’ embraced.
It is said in Luke’s account of the devil’s temptation of Christ:“And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season,” Luke 4:13.
The devil had not given up! He planned to be back!
Neither do those who blindly seek to promote his interests!
Distressing
One of the most distressing news reports that all too frequently appears is that of someone being assisted to end their life. One headline recently appeared which indicated the growing acceptance of that which the Lord utterly forbids!
Pegasos clinic for assisted dying in Switzerland
‘Swiss assisted dying clinic accepts five Britons a month’
The sixth commandment is explicit:— “Thou shalt not kill,” Exodus 20:13. That means we must not unlawfully kill others OR ourselves. That clinic in Switzerland is a house of murder!
Our dying is in the hands of the Lord.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,” Hebrews 9:27.
As our birth took place without our having any part in its timing so it is with our death.
Suffering
Yes, often pain and much suffering is linked to dying, though in these days of advanced medical treatment and care, that is thankfully greatly reduced from former times.
However, such suffering is a solemn reminder of the awful consequences of the fall of Adam and the outworking of the sinful natures we have inherited from our surety and the father of mankind.
“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,” Genesis 3:17-19.
All around us, in the fields and our gardens is the living proof of the curse that sin has brought upon this world.
Furthermore, the fruit of sin in our bodies brings inevitable pain and suffering, both physical, mental and spiritual.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God,” Galatians 5:19-21.
The closing words of this passage sets forth the ETERNAL harvest of sin — “They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (more…)
