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Ecclesiastical transformers, Pt 1

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

Yesterday (11/3/25) I received an email from a female, or at least it was signed by one bearing a female name and with the designation (Rev) attached. With the satanic confusion that is abroad today, it is difficult to tell at times!!

She is someone living in complete defiance of Paul’s teaching in Titus 1:5-6. “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.”

Whatever else she may be, she cannot be in obedience to this Scripture and claim to be a minister of Christ!

The title ‘elder’ is interchangeable with the title ‘overseer’ or ‘bishop’ as Acts 20:17, 28 demonstrates. A minister, an elder who labours “in the word and doctrine,” 1 Timothy 5:17, can only be a man. That is the teaching of the Bible!

Claims

This person claimed to be a ‘sister in Christ.’ She further claimed that she was converted over sixty years ago and has been ‘over 40 years . . . in Christian ministry.’

This person then began what was really just a tirade against our conformity to Biblical worship.

Here is one comment: ‘Watching live Free Presbyterian worship on utube I observe the need for outward conformity to expectations. Recently from XXXXX FP I was delighted to see a choir of about 40 young people but dismayed to see how the young girls all felt constrained to wear strange berets  (very similar to the Brethren head coverings.) There can be no Scriptural authority to put such expectations on them. I suspect that are merely responding to church and peer pressure.’

Those are her words not mine!

Doubtless, the final words are meant to ‘embarrass’ me! I find I have no difficulty finding myself aligned with any who, in this matter, obey the teaching of the Bible.

I would much rather be in such company than in that of this sneering female Bible-rejector!

The source of this ‘constraint’, so contemptuously referred to, is merely a desire to obey God.

“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered,” 1 Corinthians 11:4-6.

So much for ‘no Scriptural authority’, as asserted by this female ignoramus!

Rant

She continues her foolish rant: ‘My conclusion is that the Free Presbyterians could more rightly be known as the Bound Presbyterians.’ (more…)

Explaining the stand of the Free Presbyterian Church

This article sprang out of an email I sent to a Christian bother who felt that the Free Presbyterian Church’s actions in  its protests in the past could not be justified from the Word of God. Naturally, I disagreed.

I tried to set forth the reason why back in the heyday of our protests, when Dr Paisley was in his prime, we believed we were obeying the Word of God in going out to challenge the Ecumenists, Modernists and Romanisers, who had taken over the established denominations.

I hope the article it is helpful to younger Free Presbyterians.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster


Explaining the stand of the Free Presbyterian Church since its founding.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear,1 Peter 3:15.

A Free Presbyterian Church protest against abortion in 2023, led by Rev John Armstrong, then Moderator

In this article, I would like to try and give the Protestant perspective of the political and religious controversies here in Northern Ireland.

As we look at the state of things today in Northern Ireland, there is one in high office who upholds the political view that the IRA were right in their terrorism and generally did no wrong. Sinn Fein leader, Michelle O’Neill, who is ‘First Minister’ in the Stormont Assembly,  has the support of many in the electorate who believe that the only ones who had the right ‘to shoot to kill’ were the members of the IRA.

It is for this reason that there have been ongoing attempts by such to punish, by imprisonment, soldiers and policemen, who in the course of their duty and in the defence of life, shot those engaged in terrorism. (more…)

Message for Protestants from the funeral sermons of priests

I am posting this sermon — ‘A message for Protestants from the funeral sermons of priests at the funerals of the Loughgall IRA gang’ — preached by me on 24th May 1987, in Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church.



Read sermon notes here

 

My memory of it was stirred while corresponding with a dear Christian to whom I was seeking to explain and defend the witness of Free Presbyterians over the years.

Our witness was not perfect or free from error, “For ‭there is‭ no man‭ that sinneth‭‭ not,” 1 Kings 8.46, but I believe that I can say that there was with us, over the years, a ’spirit of jealousy’ like that which possessed Elijah. “‭And he said‭‭, I have been very‭‭ jealous‭‭ for the LORD‭ God‭ of hosts‭: for the children‭ of Israel‭ have forsaken‭‭ thy covenant‭, thrown down‭‭ thine altars‭, and slain‭‭ thy prophets‭ with the sword‭; and I, ‭even‭ I only, am left‭‭; and they seek‭‭ my life‭, to take it away‭‭,” 1 Kings 19:10.

The Lord bless you all richly,

Ivan Foster