DEAD ORTHODOXY

'He hated dead orthodoxy with a perfect hatred. "The living dog" of an earnest though faulty revivalism was in his opinion better than the "dead lion" of a heartless orthodoxy. Truth no doubt is truth; but the letter killeth: it is the spirit that giveth life. Water is water; but better surely is a cupful from the living well than a pitcherful from the stagnant pond. Dead orthodoxy is but the maker of decent graveclothes for dead souls. At best the teacher of lifeless doctrine is but the master tailor of pharisaism. Some men worship the truth of God instead of the God of truth. Dead orthodoxy is the worship of truth, and is the most subtle of all kinds of idolatry...Our evangelist was grieved to see men splitting hairs while souls were perishing. Are the disciples nodding and sleeping while the cause of Christ is bleeding at every pore? Are men piously wagging their heads because the Lord's work is nailed to a cross? Alas! it is even so.'

Duncan Matheson The Scottish Evangelist. Page 251.

THE LIAM AITCHISON MURDER TRIAL IS BEING HELD IN PRIVATE. WHY?

For years it has been illegal to carry a camera into a Scottish courtroom. I remember this from back in the day when I was a press photographer. I used to have to leave the kit in the car and come rushing out just before the end of proceedings to take my photos as the people emerged onto the street. That was allowed - but I had to wait until they were actually off courthouse property. Now, I ask you - what on earth is the difference between taking the photos of the accused/convicted inside or outside the courthouse? Thankfully, these days a glimmer of good sense has prevailed and they are currently considering permitting the televising of court cases. But we have the old problem, that because the status quo is what we've been used to, they they find it nigh on impossible to get out of it - even though they don't know why.

CENSORSHIP
I don't mind telling you - I hate censorship. To quickly define censorship in my own words: censorship is when an individual or group decides that they know best, and deliberately withholds the truth from others.

THE PUBLIC GALLERY EXISTS FOR A REASON
On the one hand, in this country we have a public gallery in every courtroom and the general public are welcome to come in and spectate if they wish. Also the names of the accused/convicted are available in the media. On the other hand, no cameras are allowed, so, of course, viewing proceedings on the TV is out of the question.

In America and other countries it is common practice to televise court cases. In America we had the famous trial of O.J. Simpson all over the TV. In Inverness the trial of two ordinary young men is held in private. 'Private' though, is not the right word, they should use 'secret'.

Why hold it in private - who or what are they trying to protect?

We criticise other countries for doing things in secret, and rightly so - particularly if elections are not held openly and fairly, or if we think they might be making nuclear weapons. We send inspectors to check on them because we don't trust them. We ought to preach by example, and allow justice to be 'seen' to be done as it ought to be - and not be hypocrites.

I much prefer the Biblical method: "...PROVIDE THINGS HONEST IN THE SIGHT OF ALL MEN." (Romans 12: 17); THEM THAT SIN REBUKE BEFORE ALL, THAT OTHERS ALSO MAY FEAR. (1 Timothy 5: 20).

Every detail of the trial of Liam Aitchison's murderers should be completely open for all to see - and televised - it's everyone's right. We all have an interest.

DIVISION

"WITH ALL MY HEART I PROTEST AGAINST WHAT I HAVE KNOWN - MEN RECEIVED WITH ALL WARMTH OF SIMPLICITY, AND QUIETLY LEADING UNSUSPECTING ONES AWAY TO THEIR PECULIAR VIEWS, LEAVING AFTERWARDS A LEAVEN OF DIVISION INJURIOUS IN ITS RESULTS...BLESS GOD FOR SCOTTISH CAUTION; BUT IT IS OFTEN AT FAULT...STEREOTYPED MODES OF ACTION, IF NEED BE, MUST BE LAID ASIDE, AND THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT MUST BE RECOGNISED...ESSENTIALS MUST BE HELD AS WITH A DEATH-GRIP; BUT NON-ESSENTIALS MAY BE SCATTERED TO THE WINDS.

"I ONLY RETURNED A FEW DAYS AGO FROM THE SEA-SIDE...I USED TO SIT AND MARK THE EBBING AND FLOWING TIDE. WHEN IT WAS OUT EVERY INEQUALITY IN THE SHORE COULD BE SEEN, HIDDEN ROCKS WERE LAID BARE, AND THE TANGLE-COVERED BOTTOM EXPOSED. WHEN IN, ALL WAS COVERED. THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE SEEN BUT THE BLUE SEA - THE ONE GREAT OCEAN. SO, WHEN THE HOLY GHOST SHALL PUT FORTH HIS ALMIGHTY POWER, A SUBJECT SUCH AS THIS WILL NOT BE RAISED."

Duncan Matheson The Scottish Evangelist, page 235 - 236.

ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.

Thanks to Peter Reynolds for this link.

WHAT IS THIS CHRIST-MASS?

It is important to point out that God's word gives us not the slightest idea of the time of year Jesus was born. This is not an accident. The festival which people call Christmas is completely man-made and has no place whatsoever in Christianity.

The event which Roman Catholics call the 'mass' is also completely man-made and has no place in Christianity.

The third commandment states: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain..." This means that to use the name of God in any way which he has not sanctioned is presumptuous and sinful, even blasphemous.

The Christ-mass festival has its origins in ancient paganism where revelry, gluttony, drunkenness and gift-giving was celebrated. Of course in those days it went by a different name.

It's nice to have a time of year when everyone is on holiday and comes together to have meals and socialize, but we err greatly if we try to drag God's name into it and turn it into a pseudo-religious festival.

By all means, give presents, eat well, enjoy - but please - let's leave God's name out of it - unless it's according to scripture.

CLIMATE CHANGE: TRICK, FRAUD AND DELUSIONAL NONSENSE

Thanks to Alasdair Martin for this link.

PYGMIES AT THE HELM AS WE HEAD TOWARDS THE ICEBERG

The following is a selection of quotes from Max Hastings' article in today's Daily Mail.

"...Eurosceptics gleefully cheered at the notion that a prime minister has at last done the big thing, telling the Frogs and Huns to get stuffed."

"...Euro-enthusiasts - including most of the BBC's commentators - talk as if any responsible British leader must shut his eyes and vote with our 26 partners, even on a day-trip to hell. They are in denial about the ghastly predicament of the whole EU project."

"The Europeans want to preserve a gold-plated social model, to ring-fence themselves against the cold winds of the real world outside. However, they will fail."

"The worst consequence of Cameron's veto is likely to be that our EU partners will dismiss our views and, indeed, seek to punish us."

"The erratic President Sarkozy of France, who sometimes seems close to madness...His petulance and fevered efforts to escape looming electoral defeat at home, has worsened the crisis. We should pray nightly for his political demise in the spring."

"Critics of last week's veto, such as Ed Miliband, talk as if David Cameron had a duty to stay aboard the euro-liner even as it races towards the iceberg, merely because none of the other passengers has got off."

"It would probably be best for Britain, as well as for the Western world, if the euro collapsed swiftly, the boil was lanced."

"Europe needs strong and far-sighted leaders, and instead is being guided by pygmies."

WHAT THE BOSSES BELIEVED

"THE BOSSES BELIEVED THAT EVERY EMPLOYEE SHOULD START AT THE BOTTOM, IN THE DUST."

The Forgotten Highlander by Alistair Urquhart. Page 15.

Quite right too - changed days now though.

IRREGULARS - BUT TO WHOM?

"God has raised up not a few evangelists who go hither and thither. I call the majority of them irregulars, freelances, knowing no church, understanding nothing of parochial divisions, subject to no master but Christ, and, it cannot be denied, wielding a mighty influence on not a few."

Duncan Matheson The Scottish Evangelist. pp. 234.

WHICH IS BEST FOR THE CHURCH, PERSECUTION OR EASE?

"HOW SAD THE THOUGHT, THAT WHAT FAGGOT AND EXILE COULD NOT DO A CHRISTLESS FORM ACCOMPLISHED!"

Duncan Matheson The Scottish Evangelist. pp. 232.

Faggots were the bundles of combustible material used as fuel for the fires in which the Christian martyrs were burned alive.

BEST SUMMING UP OF SINGLE CURRENCY I'VE HEARD

WELL DONE DAVID CAMERON FOR HAVING THE GUTS

Well done David Cameron for having the guts to veto the horrible EU - I didn't think he had it in him. Great! Now maybe some others will also display a bit of bottle.

People need to stop worrying about likely short-term consequences and making careers out of compromise and just simply get into the habit of making a stand against bad ideas.

The European Union is one big bad idea. It's just a bloated and dishonest gravy train which seeks to impose its dictatorial will on everyone.

It is not the duty of any country to look after the interests of other countries - it is the duty of a country to look after the interests of its own people. If it was possible to turn the whole of Europe into a single state (country), then it would be fine - but it's not possible - Europe ain't America - a young country with it's various states all speaking the same language.

Interesting to see what happens next.

THE WRONG STUFF

When I heard yesterday about the jesting made of Liam Aitchison's murder on channel 5 programme The Wright Stuff I watched the clip. It was shocking. I could hardly believe that supposedly civilised human beings could laugh and joke in such a prolonged manner about such a thing.

Last night I had the intention of this morning recording the clip and posting it on this blog but they have obviously panicked and removed the offending clip - I shouldn't have procrastinated.

Anyway, it was shocking - they should certainly be punished.

This is yet another example of the effect the despising of God's truth has on people in general. The problem only grows. We must open our eyes. The Bible claims to be the truth of God. True or false. Great Britain was made great by believing in the Bible. How much sense does it make to despise it? What does that leave us with? It leaves us with nothing but utter hopelessness - if there is no God we might as well go and jump off the nearest cliff - why prolong the inevitable - and who has the right to find fault with us if we do?

If there is no God then there is no moral code - no moral law. This means that no one has the right to find fault with anything - It means Adolf Hitler was quite right, we are just pieces of meat. We haven't been created in the image of God after all - we just accidentally happen to be the "most evolved" animal. After all, Hitler was only being logical and following the path down which atheism inevitably leads - because there is no God then ultimately we answer to no one - therefore we can do as we please - total freedom to say and do as we like.

Or is it total bondage?

YOUNG MEN, YOUNG MEN

To the divinity students at the New College, Edinburgh (1867).

"YOUNG MEN, YOUNG MEN, DOWN WITH BOOKS AND UP WITH CHRIST! SOULS ARE PERISHING! UP, AND AIM AT SAVING SINNERS."

Duncan Matheson The Scottish Evangelist. PP. 220

A MAN IN THE PULPIT

"I WENT TO HEAR MR MATHESON. THE PLACE OF MEETING WAS CROWDED, AND I COULD FIND A SEAT ONLY NEAR THE PULPIT. THE STRANGER ENTERED. HIS MANNER AT ONCE ATTRACTED AND RIVETTED MY ATTENTION; IT WAS ALTOGETHER SO NOVEL TO ME. NEVER TILL THEN HAD I SEEN A MAN IN THE PULPIT, ONLY A MINISTER. IN HIS WHOLE BEARING THERE WAS A STRIKING ABSENCE OF ALL STIFFNESS AND FORMALITY. HIS PRAYER TOUCHED ME: NO INTRODUCTION, NO FORMAL CONCLUSION; IT WAS BRIEF, POINTED, DIRECT. IT WAS SO SOLEMN, YET SO TENDER. HEARING SUCH CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE LIVING GOD I WAS DEEPLY SOLEMNIZED."

Duncan Matheson The Scottish Evangelist. PP. 212.