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March for Jesus: an exposure

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…)

The ongoing distress of living amidst a generation ignorant of what awaits the unconverted in eternity!

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 18:3.

Recently, there was some good parliamentary news!

Assisted dying bill runs out of time

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…)

Leaning on Christ as we pilgrimage through the wilderness

“Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?” Song of Solomon 8:5

I understand that at the Presbytery meeting of Friday 1st May, I, along with Rev David Linden was charged with wrong-doing by Rev Ron Johnstone and Rev Marcus Lecky.

I was not informed that this would be taking place nor have I been officially notified yet of the charge laid against me.

The Free Presbyterian Church Book of Church Order, Chapter 10.5, states:—

‘Any business relating to any member of Presbytery shall be brought to the member’s attention as soon as possible.’

Since both Rev Linden and myself are on the phone it would have been an easy matter to have informed us before the meeting of Presbytery that this was going to happen. The Presbytery officers would have been informed of the matter otherwise it could not have been raised without notice.

Furthermore, I was phoned by Rev Marcus Lecky just after 5.00 pm on the Friday evening, but he did not tell me that he was about to charge me with wrong-doing, which in the circumstances seems rather remiss of him!

I understand that the attention of the Moderator was drawn to this obvious violation of the above rule that was taking place, but that was dismissed as not applying in this instance!

I await with confidence in the Lord that the matter will be resolved and sin exposed and, under the grace of God, it will prove a means of the Free Presbyterian Church returning to its first love and works.

This morning I read The Song of Solomon, chapter 8 and the verse 5, as part of my daily reading.

I had planned to send out in a day or so a message I preached on this verse twenty years ago. However, in the light of recent events, I thought I would send it out this morning.

The text poses a question that is very worthy of consideration in a day when Christians are bombarded with men’s thoughts and reasonings, without reference to the Word of God, and are being urged to lean on such unscriptural notions.

Such reasoning will draw us away from Christ and encourage us to cease to lean on His immoveable, all powerful shoulder and instead trust in the proud thoughts of men.

It will result in the same outcome as endured by disobedient Israel long ago. “And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand,” Ezekiel 29:6-7.

Man’s reasoning is but a ‘broken reed’ from which no help or support will come, only disappointment and disaster!

To heed and respond to such unscriptural reasonings has ever been the first step out of God’s will and on to the path of backsliding for an individual or a church, and then eventual apostasy.

It happened 100 years ago in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and it will happen to us in the Free Presbyterian Church if we likewise cease to lean ONLY on the Lord and His Word for guidance and instruction in righteousness.

The Song of Solomon is a love song which celebrates the affectionate relationship between Christ and His spouse, the Church, under the terms expressive of the loving relationship between a husband and wife.

In these days of unbridled impropriety and licence, the terminology of this song is very much open to misunderstanding and abuse. However, the sanctified heart and mind will see only the purity and delights of the unbounded love of Christ for His people and the response to that love that grace engenders within the regenerated soul.

“We love him, because he first loved us,” 1 John 4:19.

From our text please observe the pilgrimage of the child of God from the wilderness to the wonders of heaven and the only enduring source of support and comfort — our Beloved Saviour!

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)

3rd May 2026