Church of Scotland R.I.P

It is difficult to know what to say in this situation. I left the denomination 20 years ago, in part over the promotion of homosexual activity.  My only surprise is that it has taken 20 years for the legislation to catch up with the reality on the ground.

There are still those who are saying “We will stay in and fight.  We will disobey the G.A.”

My question is whether there are any legal means left to fight.  There is no discipline possible for those who practice or promote homosexual sin; but then neither is there any discipline available against those who promote heretical teaching and deny the Gospel.

What do the evangelicals mean when they say they will disobey the Assembly? Will they refuse to recognise the status of or work with those in same sex relationships?  Perhaps; but will they refuse to recognise and work with those who promote and support such unbiblical behaviour.  Probably not; because to exist within an apostate denomination you need to be willing to compromise with heretics.

Do they really want to engage in a civil war within the Church of Scotland, with all the pressure this will bring on their ministries?  Or, would it not be better to separate and join with an evangelical Presbyterian body where your energies are not exhausted in fighting the denomination but rather focused on preaching the Gospel and promoting the Kingdom.

The Church of Scotland is just a denomination, and as far as I am concerned an apostate denomination.  It is not the church in Scotland.  A false ecclesiology refuses to recognise that the denomination is not the church. 

What of new candidates for the ministry – will they be told to “hide” their opposition to active homosexuality and refusal to recognise this new law or the ministries it enables.  The denomination can rightly refuse those who will not be subject to the law of the Kirk.

If the evangelicals want to work towards and fight for a national, evangelical Reformed church then let them come and join us in the Free Church of Scotland and together with us help to realise that vision.  We can work together.  Better this than to waste your energy on a denominational cause that cannot be won.

When a ship is sinking, holed below the water line, the pumps having failed and the vessel listing to the point of capsizing, then the sensible passenger takes to the lifeboats for the preservation of life and safety.  I am sure that any leader of the Covenant Fellowship /Forward Together who might just happen to be on a cruise at this time would have the sense to know when to abandon a sinking ship – I hope that they might have the sense to  know when to abandon a sinking and apostate denomination.