Much has been written about Mrs Kate Forbes and her bid to become the leader of the Scottish National Party. Her views of many of the moral issues of today have brought her much criticism because she is a professing Christian.
Just how she came to be a member of the ungodly SNP is a mystery to me. I cannot understand how any believer in the Lord Jesus Christ could campaign under the banner, let alone seek to lead, a party which has strongly advocated abortion, ’same-sex marriage’ and the utter lunacy of ‘transgenderism’.
However, this lady has desired to head up such an evil political amalgam and apparently is supported in that ambition by her church, the ‘Free Church of Scotland’, a church that has strayed from the path of faithful allegiance to the Word of God and has adopted some of the views and notions of ‘Contemporary Christianity’!
She has been widely attacked in the press by members of her own party and her stance repudiated.
Maybe today she is wondering: ‘Why has this happened to me now? After all I have been widely seen as a successful Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy for over two years?’
If she is wondering along those lines, and I cannot help but think that she must, then I offer her an answer in the light of God’s Word.
The story is told of Charles Haddon Spurgeon as a six-year-old boy by his Aunt Ann.
“During his first visit to Stambourne (where his grandfather was a pastor) he heard his grandfather lamenting time and again over the inconsistent life of one of his flock, and one day he suddenly declared his intention to kill old Roads, the man in question. In spite of the warning his grandfather gave him about the awful fate of murderers, he persisted in his resolve. “I’ll not do anything bad,” he declared, “but I’ll kill him.” Shortly afterwards he astonished them by asserting that he had done the deed. In answer to all questions he declared he had done no wrong but that he had been about the Lord’s work, that he had killed old Roads, who would never trouble his grandfather any more.
The mystery was solved by the appearance of old Roads himself, who shortly afterwards called at the manse, and told how he had been sitting in the public house, with his paper and mug of beer, when the boy entered and, pointing to him, said, ‘What doest thou here, Elijah, sitting with the ungodly, and you a member of the church, and breaking your pastor’s heart? I’m ashamed of you. I wouldn’t break my pastor’s heart, I’m sure.’
The sermon in its brevity and simplicity and directness might also be put alongside that other which ten years afterward led the young preacher himself to surrender his life to Christ, as this one led old Roads. During the four years that followed, the old man lived an exemplary life. He could not read, but he knew that the words of life were in the Bible, and with pathetic love for the Book, he counted the very leaves of it.”
Might I suggest that Mrs Forbes consider these words used by young CH Spurgeon to challenge the erring saint who was in the wrong place and in wrong company.
“Behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:9.
The events of the last few days must surely have shown to her that she, like ‘old Roads’, is in the wrong place. I cannot for a moment believe that she has not been challenged in her heart before about her political and moral associations. But now, in a very dramatic way, the Lord in His sovereign grace has brought home to this woman that she is keeping the wrong company, a company which hates what she professes to believe and consequently she is displeasing the Lord. Let her hearken to the challenge of the prophet Jehu to king Jehoshaphat, “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD,” 2 Chronicles 19:2.
This recent controversy has lessons for every Christian. No matter who we are, we will not be allowed to besmirch the name and honour of the Lord by involving ourselves in the evil plans and purposes of the devil and his crowd.
Let the Christians in the DUP take heed!!
Printed below is an article from today’s ‘Belfast Newsletter’ which highlights some of the critical comments directed at Mrs Forbes. Those who voice sympathy for her do not of course see anything wrong in her involvement with the SNP!
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
23rd February 2023
