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Alf McCreary: Pope Francis – the world at large respected this man of deep faith and humanity

So runs the headline in the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ of an article written by the ‘arch-ecumenist’ and Presbyterian, Alf McCreary.

I grieve that the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ gives space to this man’s deceptions while, at the same time, it purports to attempts to combat the deceptions of Sinn Fein/IRA.

I freely admit that I detest this man’s writings for they have invariably been deceitful, anti-scriptural and ungodly!

He has been writing for many years in Northern Ireland and must be considered one of the chief architects of the theologically liberalising and apostatising influences within the ‘Protestant’ community.

He may consider that such a title coming from me is a wonderful compliment and endorsement but he will not think so when he will soon be called before the Judge of all the earth, to give an account of his deeds and words!

The above headline is an example of the wicked lies he has sown in the hearts and minds of the people of Ulster, over many years.

I. THE ‘RESPECT’ THAT THE WORLD PAID TO THIS MAN, OF WHICH HE WRITES, WAS AS LASTING AND AS REAL AS ‘DISNEYLAND SNOW’!

The Internet says of this ‘phenomenon’. “Downtown Disney snowfall happens nightly, every half hour, beginning at 6 p.m. The entirety of the snowfall lasts between two and three minutes.”

Apart from displaying themselves and squabbling behind the scenes as to who should get the best and most prominent  seats, the ‘mourners’ were more reminiscent of pop concert attenders than the sad and bereaved!

The showing off their latest fashion and defiance of convention by the ‘ladies’ was likewise an indication of the ‘sham sorrow’. The pretended ‘wearing sorrow on your sleeve’ was totally hypocritical of many at the funeral.

Taking a ‘mobile phone selfie’ was more important than shedding a tear! (more…)

I have just sent in to the Editor of the ‘Belfast Newsletter’, this response to a letter from a Mr Ferguson which appeared in yesterday’s edition.

I am replying because there are some matters in the letter that need correcting and also the issue dealt with needs a response from one involved in the controversy of Dr Paisley’s entering power-sharing arrangement with Sinn Fein/IRA from the very outset.

I think too that there is a need to highlight, for the present generation, details of events that were not made public at the time.

I trust that this will encourage those looking to the Lord for a restoration of the Free Presbyterian Church to its former stand for God, to continue praying for such.

Let us echo the prayer of the Psalmist.

“Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved,” Psalm 80:19.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

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Dear Editor,

In response to Mr Richard Ferguson’s letter of yesterday (22/4/25), I must first of all point out that the ‘headline’  — ‘Free Presbyterians accepted the abomination of sharing power with Sinn Fein/IRA, which has helped a minister to hold an Irish language event’ contains both a falsehood and a truth.

1. It is false to say Free Presbyterians accepted the abomination of sharing power with Sinn Fein/IRA. That implies a wholesale acceptance of the folly of Dr Paisley back in 2007.

I think the fact that Dr Paisley had to step down as Moderator in January 2008 indicates that a majority of the Presbytery were opposed to him holding the position of ‘First Minister’ in the power-sharing executive at Stormont and that of Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church.

I believe the subsequent removal of him as First Minister and then as leader of the DUP, was an indication of heaven’s disapproval of the step he had taken.

I personally had told him, as a member of a Free Presbyterian Presbytery delegation, which met with the leaders of the DUP in November 2006, that his actions were akin to those of Jehoshaphat. The great king had acted foolishly and was rebuked by the Lord through his servant, Jehu, the prophet. (more…)

— A brief exposition of Psalm 15 —

III. WHERE IT IS THE TRUE BELIEVER IS TO ABIDE.

“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”

For the Old Testament believer these two places represent the location of the God appointed place where He is to be worshipped.

1. It was a place appointed by the Lord. “But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee,”Deuteronomy 12:5-7.

That is what distinguishes the religion of Christ, true religion, from all those invented by man. Every element of true religion is ordained of God!

In the Westminster Confession of Faith, the underlying confession of Free Presbyterianism, there is this statement in the chapter dealing with the Holy Scriptures. ‘The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word; and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.’ (WCF, Chapter 1, Paragraph 6). (more…)