There is a political ‘conundrum’ surfacing in Scotland amongst the SNP supporters which is reminiscent of the situation here amongst the DUP.
Kates Forbes is a professing Christian who has found her rather hesitant stand for what the Bible teaches regarding marriage and gender, being criticised for even what cannot be said to be a forthright witness for the truth of God.
The report below, from today’s ‘Belfast Newsletter, is indicative of the worldly view of her position.
Of course, such tentative comments as she has made on these very present-day topics, is easily understood for one cannot be in the company of such as make up the Scottish National Party, Romanists, Atheists and expat Irish Republicans, without being robbed of the power to give a strong forthright witness for Christ.
I am reminded of the situation in Sodom and the weak and compromising, less than clear witness of Lot. His response to the sodomites attacking the door of his home and their shameful and outrageous demands, was most wrong and on a par with the sinful desires of the sodomites.
“And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, and said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof,” Genesis 19:5-8.
It is little wonder that his native Sodom sons-in-law laughed at him when he did finally speaks up for the Lord!
“And the men (the angels sent by the Lord) said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law,” Genesis 19:12-14.
The word ‘mocked’ means in modern terminology, ‘joked’!
There is an old saying here in Ulster that sums up what happens when you mingle with the ungodly. “When you lie down with the dogs, your will rise with the fleas!”
It is clear that Mrs Forbes’ words in which she indicates her less than forthright opposition to same-sex marriage and the present ‘transgender’ policies of the SNP, have annoyed her compatriots and there is a large-scale ‘forsaking and fleeing’ of those who would have liked her to lead the SNP.
It was pointed out by Lorna Hood, a chaplain to King, that Mrs Forbes was wrong is her claims. “I admire Kate Forbes being so open about her faith and respect her beliefs and her stance on moral issues as she understands them. However to say mainstream Christianity teaches that marriage is between man and women is being disingenuous.”
Sadly this ‘chaplain’, a representative of ‘modern’ Christianity, rightly points out that Mrs Forbes is in error to make the claim that ‘mainstream Christianity’ upholds the Bible’s teaching on marriage. Lorna Hood goes on to say by way of contradicting Mrs Forbes that: “The Church of Scotland, which is the largest church north of the border, allowed ministers to conduct same-sex marriage. This month the Church of England’s national assembly, the General Synod, voted to permit priests to bless the civil marriages of same-sex couples.”
Mrs Forbes, like many professing Christians who wish to ignore the abounding apostasy all around, of which they are part, was unwilling to acknowledge the direction of the society to which she clings and wishes to be a part of, is going in!
If she can but realise it, the Lord in His providence is doing her a great favour and stopping her allowing her political ambitions to tie her even closer to the abominable views of this evil party to which she has already tied herself.
Christians do get themselves into terrible situations, as is here illustrated. Peter shamefacedly, denying his association with the Saviour, found himself in an ever deepening quagmire of lies and rejection of Christ, for which he suffered, even after repentance, anguish of heart for the rest of his days.
Here in Ulster, the DUP has been gradually spiralling downward as it seeks to hold on to political power and acceptance with the electorate by relinquishing its former stand for God’s truth and increasingly embracing the LGBT ‘agenda’. There are those within its ranks who openly and blatantly embrace the evil trends of today and that without the slightest rebuke from the party leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, a professing Christian.
That will not end well. Both the DUP and Mrs Forbes would do well to consider the following familiar words.
“Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same,” Job 4:8.
“Who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile,” Romans 2:6-10.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting,” Galatians 6:7-8.
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
22nd February 2023