This article was prompted by an email from a friend which highlighted the high opinions of Kate Forbes (or Mrs McLennan to use her married name) expressed in the press.
Such opinions underscore the ignorance of God’s Word that is to be found amongst professing Christians.
We wish to challenge these foolish views.
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster
THE POLITICAL STANDARDS OF KATE FORBES EULOGISED AND THE BIBLE IGNORED
Headlines such as those which have appeared in the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ of late, such as ‘Kate Forbes stood by her Christianity with courage and dignity’ and ‘No glass ceiling for Christians in politics’, all seem to praise the actions of Mrs Forbes of the Scottish Nationalist Party.
Such praise is offered in ignorance and contradiction of the Word of God. The path Kate Forbes pursued of late may have caused many to feel she had acted courageously but what she did was not endorsed by the Word of God.
The SNP is a most morally corrupt party, One of its main political planks is that of sanctioning and promoting the ridiculous and evil notion of ‘transgenderism’! Kate Forbes is reported as being opposed to such but then Lot was somewhat opposed to sodomy, Peter tells us it ‘vexed’ him (2 Peter 2:7-8), but that does not exonerate him being in Sodom!
Furthermore, many of, if not all of the policies of this party, which nurtures strong anti-British and anti-Protestant sentiments, are unbiblical. It is pro-abortion and pro-same-sex marriage.
Again, this not the company of the child of God.
I noticed that during the leadership election campaign, Kate Forbes was highly critical of the man who eventually became the leader, the Muslim, Humza Yousaf. But it was pointed out in a newspaper article that she had voted for all his polices in the past!
That is hardly being principled!
Just what does the Bible teach regarding the role of the Christian in this world?
I must stress that there is not one standard for Christian politicians and another standard for the rest of us. That is a common fallacy, promoted by many politicians who say that their faith must be left at the door of parliament.
What that means is they part company with Lord and His truth when they engage in politics!
That is an abominable denial of God and His Word.
God’s people have ever been a distinct people in the midst of a godless world. What was said of Israel is applicable to every child of God throughout all ages and in all circumstances.
“Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine,” Exodus 19:4-5.
In essence, Peter repeats these words and applies them to Christians of this era.
“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation,” 1 Peter 2:7-12.
Paul set forth for the instruction of the Corinthians, and hereby for all believers, just what were the boundaries that governed the intermingling of Christians with the worldlings. He dealt with this issue in his first and second epistles to the Corinthians, which shows the importance of the subject.
“I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat,” 1 Corinthians 5:9-11.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty,” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
The word ‘company’ means to ‘mix together intimately’. It is to identify yourself with the wicked. Such ‘companying’ is again forbidden by the phrase, “unequally yoked together with unbelievers”. It is one thing to purchase goods across a counter from one who may be most wicked but it is entirely different to seek out that person’s company socially and thus indicate that their wicked lifestyle is a matter of indifference to you!
Nothing could be clearer than the words of both Peter and Paul! We are forbidden of God to so mingle with the world as to become one with them in their attitudes, appearance and actions. That is what Lot did and sadly, it is what Mrs Forbes did. She so much identified herself with the wickedness of the SNP that she sought to yoke herself even closer to it and become its leader!
The truth of Psalm 1 stands firm still today.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night,” Psalm 1:1-2.
As a Scottish Presbyterian I am sure that this Psalm would be most familiar to Kate Forbes, even if she choses to ignore its truth and rob herself of its blessing.