News From The Front – December 2001

Dear praying friends,

Death has very visibly stalked humanity in recent months with no better examples than the terrible events of 11 September and 12 November. They bring into sharp focus the words recorded in Proverbs 27:1 “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth”. The world suffered those days, America suffered those days, New York suffered those days but the true reality of death is that it is supremely very personal. Those who suffer most as a consequence of it are the family and friends of those who die, not the world, not a country, and not a city. There was intense grief because of death in a small village called Nain some 2000 years ago, but into that scene of sorrow stepped One who made all the difference – His name was Jesus Christ [see Luke 7:11-16]. The cry went up “God hath visited his people” [v16]. As you will read shortly, death has intruded into our own family circle but in the midst of our great grief and sorrow we too can testify, “God hath visited his people” and with Job of old we raise our voices in thanksgiving saying “the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord” [Job 1:21].

Your servant for Christ

CECIL ANDREWS

A TRIBUTE TO ‘MUM’ ANDREWS

Shortly before 9.00am on Tuesday 23 October 2001 the Lord saw fit to graciously take home to Himself my well-beloved mum, Eileen who lived with Margaret and myself. Many of you may well have spoken to her on our phone, unaware that she had over the past 6 years been bravely battling with tongue cancer. But on that morning she ended her “good fight”, she “finished the course” having “kept the faith” [2 Timothy 4:7]. At the side of mum Andrew’s bed here in Ballynahinch she kept her ‘Holy Land Bible’. The front and back covers were made of olive wood with Jerusalem printed on the front and Bethlehem on the back. Inside she had noted her two trips to the Holy Land. The first, made with dad Andrews, was in July 1978. The second, made with Margaret and myself, and under the unforgettable leadership of evangelist and friend, George Bates, was in August 1989. Mum Andrews was no theologian, that was not her calling, but she believed in ‘practical Christianity’ as a demonstration of her gratitude to the Saviour who loved her and gave Himself for her. Inside the front cover of her ‘Holy Land Bible’ she had pasted the following, which she must have cut out from some Christian publication.

‘So live this day that at the end you may be ashamed of nothing and glad of something you have done or have tried to do. So live this day that at the end someone may bless you for what you have done or have tried to do. So live this day that at the end you may with a clear conscience look up to God, who knows all you have tried to do.’

That was ‘mum’ Andrews – a very ‘practical Christian’. In the wake of mum’s death we received many, many comforting messages expressing sorrow and sympathy with us in our loss. On one card we read the following Dear Cecil and Margaret It’s not often that we are able to say someone has made a lasting impression on us. This was indeed the case with your mum, as not only has she left us with an impression of someone at complete peace with her Saviour, but her natural communication of this has been a true inspiration to both of us. Eileen has been very much in our thoughts and prayers, as will you and Margaret throughout the coming days. God bless The remarkable thing about this tribute is that it did not come from a couple that had known mum for many of her almost 86 years but actually came from neighbours that we have only got to know since moving to Ballynahinch in October of last year.One sympathy card contained the following, which sums up the truth that we “sorrow not even as others which have no hope” [1 Thessalonians 4:13]

When I am gone, remember I’m with Jesus Then do not mourn because I have passed away Life holds so many griefs and disappointments And will you cry because I did not stay.

‘Tis only for a spell we must be parted Not many years on earth to us are given And when my Saviour tells me you are coming I’ll go with Him to welcome you to Heaven

Grieve not because the eyes that looked upon you Shall never see your face on earth again Rejoice, because they look upon the Saviour Who gave His life to ransom sinful men

Weep not because I walk no longer with you Remember I am walking streets of gold Weep for yourselves that you awhile must tarry Before the Blessed Lord you may behold.

When mum was moved to the specialist [Marie Curie} cancer centre, some 3 weeks before her death, I typed a very personal note to her. [Why did I type it? Well I knew that I would have been far too emotional to be able to orally verbalise what I wanted to say to her]. Let me end this tribute with the scripture that I shared with mum in my note. “The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another” [Genesis 31:49]

ISLAM

I had decided, even before the terrible events in America of 11 September, to include an item on the beliefs of Islam. My decision was really in response to the unbridled coverage given to the religion of Islam by BBC 2 television in mid August. What are the ‘pillars’ and ‘beliefs’ of what one professing Christian referred to as one of the ‘great world religions’ [more on that comment later].

The Five Pillars

1. Confession of Faith (Shahada) ‘There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is the Prophet of Allah’ (‘Allah’ is the Arabic word for God).

2. Prayer (Salat) Must be said 5 times daily (daybreak, noon, mid- afternoon, after sunset and early in the night) facing Mecca. Noon prayers on Friday should be observed in a Mosque and include a sermon. The men and women are in separate parts of the Mosque.

3. Fasting (Saum) Lasts for the ninth month of the Moslem calendar (Ramadan) and during this time Moslems do not eat or drink between dawn and sunset.

4. Almsgiving (Zakat) Moslems must give 2.5% of their income to charity.

5. Pilgrimage (Hajj) Every Moslem is required to make the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca at least once during his lifetime. There he observes various religious rituals such as washing, wearing special clothes (‘Ihram’) and circling the Kaaba 7 times (3 times quickly and 4 times slowly, kissing the sacred black stone each time).

Some Moslem groups recognize a SIXTH Pillar – Holy War – (Jihad). Declared to further the advance of Islam or to free Moslem peoples or lands. Those Moslems who are killed in such a war are assured of entrance into Paradise.

BASIC DOCTRINES

1. Belief in one God (MONOTHEISTIC – same designation as Christianity and Judaism).

2. Belief in angels, both good and bad. Each Moslem has his good and bad deeds recorded by two angels. Four Archangels are recognised (I) Gabriel – angel of revelation: (2) Mika’il – patron of the Israelites: (3) Israfil – will sound the last trumpet: (4) Azra’il – the angel of death. The Devil is known as Iblis or Shaitan.

3. Belief in scripture. Moslems believe in 4 inspired books:- (1) The Torah of Moses (first 5 books of the Bible – The Pentateuch): (2) The Zabur (Psalms of David): (3) The Injil (Gospel of Jesus): (4) The Koran – as this is God’s final word to mankind it supersedes and overrules all previous writings. Moslems believe that Christians have altered the Bible to suit their beliefs.

4. Belief in prophets. Moslems recognize many major prophets – Noah, Abraham, David, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed. They believe Mohammed was both the last and the greatest. (Mohammed also spelt Muhammad).

5. Belief in the last day. Moslems believe in a day of resurrection and Judgment. The ‘Book of Deeds’ for each person will be examined and it’s either Heaven (Al Jannah, the garden or Al Firdaus, paradise) or Hell (An Nar, the fire).

This then is a brief summary of the core practices and beliefs of Islam. Following the events of 11 September I wrote [and posted to our ministry web site] an article called ‘Who Is On The Lord’s Side’? This article was prompted very much by my frustration at the public misrepresentation of Islam by professing Christians in places of authority like The White House, like Downing Street and like The Vatican. With one voice they were singing ‘Islam means peace’. The reality is that Islam means ‘submission’ and its goal is to bring the whole world into submission to their false God ‘Allah’.

One of the best articles exploding this myth of ‘Islam means peace’ appeared in the Daily Mail of Saturday 3 November. It was written by Ann Leslie and entitled ‘The Hypocrisy of Islam’. In it she wrote

‘As I listened to him [President Bush], other Islamists and a leader of the banned Moslem Brotherhood, I became increasingly exasperated by the repeated mantra: ‘Islam is a tolerant religion’ – when intolerance towards ‘infidels’ [Jews and Christians especially] seems to be on the increase. ‘Islam is about peace’ I kept being told – yet in the past 50 years no religion has produced so many wars among its own members. So war-torn is the ‘peaceable’ Islamic world that three quarters of the globe’s refugees are now Moslems fleeing as fast as they can to the West’s non-Moslem havens. Why has resurgent Islam [now the world’s fastest growing religion] caused and inspired so many deaths, especially of fellow Moslems in the past half century? ‘Israel of course’ comes the answer. But is the existence of Israel the reason why for example Islamist Sudan is murdering and enslaving its southern Christians? Is Israel the reason why this ‘peaceful, tolerant’ religion made Algerian Moslem fundamentalists feel obliged to slit the throats of other Moslems in their fields and villages? Is Israel the reason why Moslem Syria [one of the stops on Tony Blair’s Middle East odyssey] never hesitates to massacre its own Moslem dissidents? Is Israel the reason why Moslem fundamentalists in the Philippines [who wouldn’t be able to place Israel on the map] are murdering other Moslems in southern Mindanao? Is Israel the reason why Nigerian Islamists, inspired by this ‘peaceful, tolerant’ religion turn to murdering Christians who don’t want to have Shariah law forced on them? I doubt it. Israel has become the over-arching excuse for the entire Moslem Arab community’s failure to come to terms with the modern world… When Saddam Hussein gassed a village of 5000 Moslem men, women and children in Halabja, how many worldwide Moslem demonstrations took place against this grotesque crime?…Arab Moslems are in a state of denial about their own sins, their own hypocrisies, their own double standards’.

On page 4 I made reference to the fact that one professing Christian had publicly referred to Islam as one of the ‘great world religions’. This expression appeared in an article written by Church of Ireland cleric, Walter Lewis, which was published in the Belfast Telegraph of 6 October. In response I wrote to the Telegraph and they published an edited version of my letter on 13 October. Before reproducing for you what was published let me also draw attention to what the Pope said at The Vatican on 30 September – ‘Jews, Christians, Moslems adore the One God’ – that is a blatant untruth as both Muslim and Jew reject the Tri-une God of Christianity. Rome proclaims common spiritual identity and brotherhood for ‘Christian’, Jew and Muslim on the grounds of ‘common ancestry’ in Abraham. But is this biblically credible?

Cecil’s letter published 13 October in Belfast Telegraph

Dear Editor,

Canon Walter Lewis, who is certainly not one of those ‘hardened anti-ecumenists’ that Alf McCreary alluded to in Perspectives [29 September], referred to ‘great world religions’ in his Thought For The Weekend [October 6]. From a Biblical Christian perspective, a religion will only be ‘great’ if it deals with man’s greatest problem, the removal of the Divine wrath and condemnation that wrests upon him because of sin [see John 3:36]. The Old Testament ‘feast days’ and ‘sacrificial system’ were ordained by God to remind man of his ‘sin problem’ and also to symbolically point to the coming Messiah who would permanently solve that very problem. Christ alone solves that problem. The writer to the Hebrews points his readers constantly to Christ and declares that in Him [Christ] there is “so great salvation” [Hebrews 2:3]. Peter states unequivocally, as did Christ Himself in John 14:6, that this salvation is found in Christ alone [Acts 4:12]. Mr Lewis seeks to unite many religions under his banner of ‘great’ on the basis of their respect for ‘God’ and their teaching of mutual respect. The true Christian Gospel of “Christ died for our sins” [1 Corinthians 15:1-4] separates it from every religion that rejects Christ as God’s Messiah and man’s Saviour. Other large monotheistic religions do precisely that and, despite the proclamation of common identity with Abraham, the Bible narrows such true spiritual identity down with these words “if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed” [Galatians 3:29]. Cecil Andrews – “Take Heed” Ministries – Ballynahinch

In the web site article ‘Who Is On The Lord’s Side’? I quoted from a very revealing booklet called ‘Islam Unveiled’ by Abdullah al Araby. In it he wrote ‘Islam is being presented to the world today packaged in a fancy wrapper…There is however another side to Islam usually hidden from new converts’. I have ordered copies of this booklet and they should be available from us by the time you receive this newsletter. The cost will be £3.00 [includes post and packaging].

NOT A ‘GOOD’ RESPONSE FROM SCRIPTURE UNION

As an insert with our September ‘News From The Front’ I included an item drawing attention to the appointment by Scripture Union in the Republic of Ireland of Jim Donnan, a self-styled Evangelical Catholic as their General Director. Following herewith is the exchange of correspondence I had with them in the light of this appointment.

E-MAIL SENT TO SCRIPTURE UNION ON 8 AUGUST 2001

Dear Scripture Union,

In your stated AIMS you affirm your desire to ‘make God’s GOOD NEWS known to children, young people and families’. In your STATEMENT OF BELIEF you add detail to this GOOD NEWS by stating that you ‘confess Jesus Christ…as only Mediator and Saviour, dying on the cross in our place, representing us to God, redeeming us from the grip, guilt and punishment of sin’ In your WORKING PRINCIPLES you state ‘We agree that while we are involved in Scripture Union activities we will handle controversial issues such as baptism, spiritual gifts and church order in ways that promote harmony’. Our own ministry would adopt such a ‘WORKING PRINCIPLE’ approach provided that the promotion of ‘HARMONY’ is not at the expense of the truth of the gospel – the GOOD NEWS. It is with great alarm therefore that I have learned that the Director of Scripture Union in the Republic of Ireland, Jim Donnan, is a Roman Catholic. Roman Catholicism denies the biblical truth stated in the section I quoted from your STATEMENT OF BELIEF namely that our Lord Jesus has redeemed us from the punishment of sin. Paragraph 1473 of the 1994 ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’ states – ‘The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains’. ‘Temporal punishment’ is defined in the ‘Pocket Catholic Dictionary’ by Jesuit John A Hardon [it carries full Roman Catholic doctrinal approval] as ‘The penalty that God in his justice inflicts either on earth or in Purgatory for sins, even though already forgiven as to guilt’. This is not the GOOD NEWS of the true biblical gospel, which assures forgiven believers that “There is therefore now no condemnation” [Romans 8:1. See also John 5:24 & Psalm 103:12].

As I said earlier our ministry co-operates with those who hold differing views on ‘baptism’ [eg Baptists and Presbyterians] provided that their beliefs on the subject do not constitute a false gospel. The Roman Catholic teaching on ‘baptism’ does constitute a ‘false – Judaising gospel’ as it makes ‘baptism’ essential to salvation [1994 Catholic Catechism – paragraph 1129 states ‘The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation’ & Paragraph 1992 states ‘Justification is conferred in Baptism, the sacrament of faith. It conforms us to the righteousness of God who makes us inwardly just by the power of his mercy’.] This is a denial of the ‘imputed’ righteousness of Christ to every believer – see Romans 3:22 & Romans 4:5 and such false teaching is anathematised by God in His Word in Galatians 1:6-9. Any professing Roman Catholic who does not accept Rome’s teaching on ‘baptism’ is anathematised by the Roman Catholic Church and in reality is not a Roman Catholic and should neither style themselves as one [evangelical or otherwise] nor worship and fellowship in a church that preaches such a false gospel. Just one ‘anathema’ example will suffice – Council of Trent, Session 7, Canon 5 ‘If anyone [eg Scripture Union] says that baptism is optional, that is, not necessary for salvation, let him be anathema’. If Scripture Union is to remain faithful to its AIMS, STATEMENT OF BELIEF and WORKING PRINCIPLES then either Jim Donnan must publicly acknowledge that the Roman Catholic church does not faithfully proclaim the GOOD NEWS and he must formally leave it and join himself to a church that is faithful to the message of the GOOD NEWS or if not then Scripture Union must terminate Mr Donnan’s employment with them. To continue the present arrangement is to disobey the clear teaching of the Word of God as found in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 & Ephesians 5:11. I await your reply. Your servant for Christ Cecil Andrews “Take Heed” Ministries

E-MAIL RECEIVED 25 SEPTEMBER FROM SCRIPTURE UNION [ROI]

Dear Mr Andrews,

Thank you for your letter, forwarded to me by David Bruce on behalf of the Britain and Ireland Region of Scripture Union. In appointing a General Director in the Republic, the Council sought a candidate who would be in full personal agreement with the published “Aims, Belief and Working Principles” of the worldwide movement. In Jim Donnan, the Council is entirely satisfied that such a candidate was appointed. Yours sincerely – Basil Good: Chairman Scripture Union – Ireland Council

E-MAIL SENT TO SCRIPTURE UNION [ROI] ON 26 SEPTEMBER

Dear Mr Good,

Thank you for your email response to my inquiry sent to Scripture Union on 8 August. However I would ask for clarification on firstly the point of ‘forgiveness’ that was raised in my original inquiry. Does Mr Donnan hold to the ‘Evangelical’ [Biblical] understanding of forgiveness, which I assume is the Scripture Union ‘belief’ on the subject, that the Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed his people from the punishment [ALL] of sin and that Mr Donnan does not hold to the erroneous Roman Catholic teaching that even though forgiven, a person is still subject to ‘temporal punishment’ for that ‘forgiven’ sin and that they themselves must discharge that punishment either here on earth or in purgatory before they can qualify for heaven. Then secondly can you confirm that Scripture Union does not believe that the observance of ‘sacraments’ is necessary for a person to be saved and can you confirm that Mr Donnan holds to this view and does not hold to the Roman Catholic teaching of paragraph 1129 of the 1994 Catechism of the Catholic Church [‘The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation’] – a teaching that brings the Roman Catholic ‘gospel’ under God’s anathema as outlined in Galatians 1:6-9. And finally can you confirm that Scripture Union believes that when a person is ‘justified’ it is a perfect, unalterable ‘justification’ based solely on the perfection of Christ and His redeeming work and it is not ‘preserved or increased’ by an individual’s own ‘good works’ as is falsely taught by the Council of Trent [Session 6: Canon 24]. Can you confirm that Mr Donnan rejects this teaching by Trent? I look forward to your detailed response. Your servant for Christ Cecil Andrews “Take Heed” Ministries

E-MAIL RECEIVED 30 SEPTEMBER FROM SCRIPTURE UNION [ROI]

Dear Mr Andrews,

Thank you for your e-mail of 26th September. I understand from your previous correspondence that you have seen and read a copy of Scripture Unions ‘Aims, Belief and Working Principles’. These are the internationally accepted working principles for Scripture Union worldwide. Once again I would like to point out that the Council of Scripture Union in the Republic of Ireland sought a candidate who would be in full personal agreement with these principles and in Jim Donnan the Council is entirely satisfied that such a candidate was appointed. Since Mr Donnans appointment as General Director we have been encouraged to see a growing number of young people brought to a personal faith in Jesus Christ and we praise God for how He is continuing to bless the work of Scripture Union under Mr Donnans directorship. Yours sincerely, Basil Good

Clearly where Scripture Union [ROI] is concerned “the time has come when they will not endure [or even discuss] sound doctrine” [2 Timothy 4:3] and it is of no concern to them that at the helm they have ‘doctrinally’ “a double minded man” [James 1:8] Scripture Union [Northern Ireland] does not appear to be in any sounder hands [doctrinally] for its Director; Rev. David Bruce was a signatory to the 1998 Evangelicals & Catholics Together in Ireland document as was Jim Donnan.

‘I’M JUST WILD ABOUT HARRY’

This was a line from a popular secular song many years ago but today it could be the theme song for much of the world’s book – reading and cinema – going population. As the world gears up for another advent season there is a name that is on the lips of millions of people. If you’re thinking ‘Jesus Christ’ you’re well wide of the mark. The name that has captured people’s imagination is of course Harry Potter. The media industry has been gearing itself up for the release of the latest movie that is expected to very quickly break all box office records. All kinds of associated paraphernalia will no doubt be finding their way into Christmas stockings. So from a Christian point of view – what’s the big deal? Well the Harry Potter phenomenon is just the latest means by which unsuspecting children are being introduced to ‘the occult’. In recent times I have been sent a number or reports, compiled by Christians, analysing the pervading influences to be found in the Harry Potter books and movies and they make very interesting and at times alarming reading. One particular comment that appealed to me very much read like this

‘just as “progressive” leaders fear the influence of Biblical truth on budding world citizens, so Christian parents need to guard their children against all kinds of occult “counsel”’.

I will gladly send copies of these reports to all who request them.

Let me publicly commend Mr Alan Simpson of the TOYTOWN chain of shops in Northern Ireland who has refused to stock Harry Potter materials because of his Christians convictions on the topic. May God be pleased to honour him who has honoured Him.

A close encounter with a ‘raelian’

Towards the end of August [2001] I received a letter from a brother in Christ who is on my mailing list and in the letter he informed me ‘Last Friday night I was giving out Gospel leaflets at Shaftesbury Square [Central Belfast]. A foreign-looking gentleman gave me a leaflet in exchange for the one I had given him. I have enclosed a copy of the leaflet produced by the INTERNATIONAL RAELIAN MOVEMENT. I must admit I have never heard of this cult which sadly believes in science fiction as you will see…If you have any information or thoughts on how I should approach this cult I would appreciate it’.

Well, like the brother who wrote to me I have to confess that I too had never heard of the INTERNATIONAL RAELIAN MOVEMENT. My first ‘port of call’ for research purposes was to consult the book ‘The Serpent and the Cross’ which was written by Alan Morrison. Alan is the former Pastor of Crich Baptist Church in Derbyshire and when the so-called ‘Toronto Blessing’ first hit the UK back in 1994 he kindly came over to Northern Ireland at my request to give 4 very helpful talks around the Province exposing the errors and horrors of ‘Toronto’. On page 178 of his book I found the following ‘We have also seen a number of documents propounding the concept that the human race was originally the product of an experiment in genetic engineering by an advanced race of ET’s from another world. Religious writings such as the Bible, Koran etc are said to contain a record of their ancient deeds, while the world religions themselves have been based on the teachings of the messengers which they sent [eg Buddha, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed etc – shades of ‘Bahaism’ here] to prepare us for the time that the truth about all this could be revealed and their ‘Great teacher’ could finally come to earth to lead mankind into the next world-era’. A footnote on this same page 178 read ‘As a further twist in this strange saga, on 2nd December 1993, a quarter-page advertisement was placed on p7 in the International Herald Tribune, by a French journalist who claims that ET’s took him to their planet, gave him the name of RAEL, asking him to spread the message that these beings will soon come back to earth, and that an embassy must be built for the occasion…For further information about this gross deception, write to the International Raelian Movement, CP225, Geneve 8, CH-1211, Switzerland’.

My next ‘ports of call’ were to the website address listed on the leaflet sent to me [www.rael.org] and to back issues of newsletters issued by a London based cult monitoring group called FAIR [Family Action Information & Rescue]. These sources were to provide interesting and illuminating facts about the organisation and its history. The information gleaned and my responses to it are available in an article posted to our ministry web site. For those not into the Internet but who would like a copy of my article it will be sent to any who request it.

VISIT OF ROGER OAKLAND MARCH 2002 [DV]

As I reported in my last newsletter [page 12] Roger Oakland who is President of the USA based ministry Understand The Times will be coming as our guest next March [DV]. Like us, Roger and his family are recovering from the loss of a loved family member following the death of his son Bryce in a car accident in Canada in August. We would ask you to especially pray that God will comfort and strengthen Roger and his family as they seek to continue to witness for the Saviour. Set out opposite is Roger’s planned speaking schedule whilst here with us.

SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS FOR ROGER OAKLAND – MARCH 2002 [DV]
Sunday 10th – 11.30 am – Somerton Road Evangelical Presbyterian
Sunday 10th – 7.00 pm – Rathfriland Elim
Monday 11th – 7.30 pm – Rathcoole Baptist
Tuesday 12th – 8.00 pm – Lurgan Baptist
Wednesday 13th – 8.00 pm – Carr Baptist
Thursday 14th – 8.00 pm – Sandown Road Free Presbyterian
Sunday 17th – 11.30 am – Kilrea Baptist
Sunday 17th – 7.00 pm – Rosemary Park Baptist [Bangor]
Sunday 17th – 8.30 pm – Rosemary Park Baptist Youth Fellowship
Monday 18th – 8.00 pm – Coagh Baptist
Tuedsay 19th – 8.00 pm – Gortmerron Baptist
Wednesday 20th – 8.00 pm – Letterkenny Baptist
Thursday 21st – 8.00 pm – Comber Baptist
Friday 22nd – 8.00 pm – Reformed Presbyterian Youth Rally
Saturday 23rd – 8.00 pm – WORD Mission near Moira
Sunday 24th – 11.00 am – Princes Drive Evangelical Fellowship
Sunday 24th – 6.30 pm – Moira Baptist
Subday 24th – 8.30pm – Portadown Baptist Youth Fellowship

MATTER FOR PRAYER

Shortly after the death of mum Andrews I was speaking by phone to Frank Eberhardt who in recent years had been my guest here in Ireland on a number of occasions. Frank, a former trainee Roman Catholic priest now based in South Carolina, testified widely around the country and endeared himself to many who heard him. Within his family circle a major health problem of some 2 years duration has been battled with and he would appreciate prayer not only for himself but also especially for his beloved wife Kim. Please also remember his children and all the family members at Gospel Outreach International.

‘ALPHA’ ALERT

On Sunday 11 November my own Pastor preached on the following text

1st John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world”

And he spoke of how the elderly Apostle John, writing probably from Ephesus, was warning the church against ‘The Trojan Horse’ of false preachers and teachers. It would appear that Paul’s earlier warning to the elders at Ephesus was being fulfilled, as recorded in

Acts 20:29-30 “I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them”

Over recent months I have been watching the coverage on television given to the ‘ALPHA’ course and all I can say is that it will be just like a ‘Trojan Horse’ to churches and fellowships that welcome it into their midst. As this course is ‘unlocked’, released into the midst of those studying it are streams of false teachers and false doctrine. Over the weeks I have listened to Nicky Gumbel of Holy Trinity Brompton Church, the presenter and promoters of the course, quote favourably people who are obviously regarded by them as brothers and sisters in Christ. I have noted the following names –

Roman Catholics – ‘Mother’ Teresa; Malcolm Muggeridge; Hans Kung; Hans Kung, a controversial Roman Catholic theologian stated ‘No world peace without peace among the religions’ Not surprisingly this was music in the ears of the Ecumenical Movement. Others quoted with approval include C S Lewis – who believed in ‘purgatory’ and salvation apart from Christ William Temple – former Archbishop of Canterbury and President of the World Council of Churches who, according to author Edward Panosian, ‘found rays of the same light which shone forth in Christ also in the non-Christian religions’ [A later Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, also promoted similar heresy] William Barclay – described by Martin Lloyd Jones as ‘the most dangerous man in Christendom. John Wimber – Ecumenical Charismatic founder of the Vineyard Movement that in 1994 spawned the ‘Toronto Blessing’