Today sees an endorsement by the DUP that must surely shame every Christian in the party and all who support it in any way.
It also must surely strike the consciences of those ministers who remain silent in the face of the DUP’s embracing and endorsing of the perversions of today, so condemned of the Lord, knowing that members and officer-bearers within their congregations are in this party and thereby tainted by their association with him and his like.
This situation of compromise is a cowardly failure on the part of those involved with the DUP and who fail to condemn its defiance of God who vowed to keep the covenant made with the Lord by the membership of the Free Presbyterian Church back on 28th February 1988, the 350th anniversary of the signing of The National Covenant of Scotland .
The Covenant hangs in the porch of Kilskeery church. I just wonder how many other churches still display it?
Here is the essence of the oath signed up to that day by the members of the Free Presbyterian Church.
“As God providentially raised up Elijah, we believe He is now calling out a faithful remnant to maintain a testimony, free from compromise against every opposition of the enemy.
As a separated Church of God, sinners saved by grace and born again of the Holy Spirit, conscious of the violation of God’s commandments so rampant in this evil age, and conscious also that we could have a name to live and are dead, we humble ourselves before God and solemnly covenant together , by His grace to stand with Christ in this evil day, for all that He is for, and against all that he is against.”
I wonder how many ministers who took that oath have been faithful to it?
That oath most certainly forbids the associating with or supporting the DUP and a remaining silent in the face of its welcoming and elevating of sodomites and their supporters into its ranks and the outrageous betrayal of everything it once stood for!
The full text of the article was shared with me by a friend who had full access to the Belfast Telegraph website —
‘I’m still a moderate, secular, gay unionist… DUP ticks all the boxes,’ says former UUP man joining party
Mark Bain
February 19 2024 6:20 AM
A former Ulster Unionist election candidate who left the party as he believed it “was going nowhere” has joined the ranks of the DUP.
Newtownards man Michael Palmer, who is gay, had stood for the UUP in local elections for Ards and North Down Council in 2019.
He spent a decade with the party before becoming disillusioned with it last year and deciding to leave.
Mr Palmer said he had been thinking for some time about what future he had in the political arena, but said he had been convinced by the leadership shown by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson in taking his party back into devolved government at Stormont.
And he said he hopes other unionists will follow his decision in uniting behind the one party he believes can secure the future of the Union.
While he added that any nomination as a potential election candidate in the future would be down to the party, it’s something he would be excited to take on should the opportunity arise.
“I am still a moderate, secular, gay unionist. I have not changed. First and foremost I am a unionist. That’s how I identify,” he said.
But he said he had detected a shift in the DUP, which also helped sway his decision to sign up to the party.
He added: “There has been a change in unionism. It’s moved on. I feel welcomed as a young, gay man. I attend Pride every year and that’s not something which will change.
“I’ve been thinking about this for some time, and now the time is right.
“As a unionist I wanted to be a part of a political party that can win, that can consolidate the future of Northern Ireland.
“For me, that was the DUP — it’s the biggest unionist party — and when they made the decision to head back into Stormont two weeks ago, my mind was made up that it was something I wanted to be a part of.
“Our place within the United Kingdom has been restored and, as leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said, the time for complaining from the sidelines is over.
“Unionists must work together as we sell the benefits of our Union.
“Rather than be on the outside, I want to be involved. I want to contribute towards making Northern Ireland work. I want unionism to be positive, confident and inclusive.
“For me, this is how we will build long-term support for the Union. A divided unionism only serves republicanism. I appeal to all unionists to remember the unionist cause and not to lose sight of the bigger picture: maintaining our place within the Union.
Mr Palmer said he had been in the UUP from 2013 to 2023 and was a UUP election candidate in 2019 in the Comber district.
“I still maintain many great friendships with members of the UUP, and I thank them for these friendships — it means a lot to me. We are all part of the unionist family — we must always remember that no matter what happens,” he said.
“I have not changed, [but] sometimes, like life, politics takes us down different paths.
“It is anyone’s guess if unionism ever has planned realignment, though I believe a realignment within unionism is happening naturally and that’s what I want to be a part of.
“I’m looking forward to working with everyone in the DUP as we implement the five-point plan to build a better Northern Ireland. Unionism needs to be organised, united and together.
“I’ve made an informed choice that the DUP ticks all the boxes I wish to see.”
If the Free Presbyterian Church is to avoid sharing in the judgment that most assuredly will follow the rebellion of the DUP, then its ministers must act in accordance with the 1988 Covenant that was entered into and publicly denounce the DUP and call for every Free Presbyterian Church member to leave it or face disciplinary action!
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster