|
Fife fellowship writes to Presiding Officer
A Christians Together site member is part of the eldership of the Mustard Seed Fellowship in Glenrothes. Along with his colleagues he has written to the Scottish Parliament in response to the current same-sex marriage consultation.
Ed preface: the paragraph headings and emphases have been inserted to assist the reader.
To: Tricia Marwick MSP
Presiding Officer
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh EH99 1SP
From: The Mustard Seed Fellowship
 We write to you on behalf our fellow Christians in the Mustard Seed Fellowship who meet at the Mustard Seed Hall, Well Road, Glenrothes. Although less well known and much more inconspicuous than most other buildings used for Christian worship, the Mustard Seed Hall is by far the oldest and longest established meeting place used by Christians in the town of Glenrothes. Its origin as such can be traced back by documentary evidence to 1875 and it has been used continuously since.
We are an independent, evangelical church fellowship seeking to follow the teachings of the Bible, which we believe to be the authoritative, infallible, divinely inspired Word of God. We are not homophobic, which seems to be the politically convenient buzzword currently used to describe those who, on the basis of Christian faith, cannot reconcile the practise of homosexuality with the teaching of God’s Word.
Our services are open to all
The word “homophobia” describes a fear or hatred of homosexuals. We neither fear those who choose this life style, nor do we hate them. Our response to such would be to invite them to share with us the teaching of God’s Word and avail themselves of the salvation that it offers through the atoning death and resurrection of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Every one of our services is freely open to all. The only restriction, a voluntary one, is participation in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, which remembers Christ in His death, more commonly known as Communion. According to Biblical teaching only those who have been born again by the Spirit of God and whose manner of life is in keeping with the teaching of God’s Word qualify for such sacramental privilege.
These opening remarks are to establish our beliefs as being free from prejudice based on any cultural, dogmatic or human basis, but only as those founded on an unshakeable belief in the supremacy of God’s Word and a personal faith in Jesus Christ.
To re-define marriage is wrong
The purpose of this letter is to protest at the Scottish Government’s intention to re-define the institution of marriage and its presumption to have the right to impose legislation affecting the Christian church contrary to the Word of God, which alone must be its charter and authority. Whether we approve or disapprove, civil partnerships make legal provision for those who choose a homosexual lifestyle to enjoy the state’s acknowledgment and approval. If a particular church and its constitution permit it, there is presently no legal impediment to such persons to making some sort of formal commitment within a building normally reserved for Christian worship. We must make it clear that The Mustard Seed Hall would not be available for this purpose.
To go beyond this and re-define the status of marriage is entirely beyond the moral and, we contend, the legal authority of any government. Marriage is the union of a man and a woman. This is enshrined in God’s Holy Word and actually also in both The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and The European Convention of Human rights. While Bible believing Christians would find their authority and guide in the former, those who choose to disregard Divine guidance are faced with the fact that the following two man-made charters do not give those of the same sex who desire to be “married” to one another that privilege or right under law.
For thousands of years marriage has been recognised as the main building block in civilised society and is essential to the orderly continuance of the human race. Mr Gordon Wilson, a former SNP leader, and the Rev. David Robertson of St Peter’s Free Church, Dundee succinctly put it in their response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on this matter when they wrote, “Marriage is essential to the human condition; same-sex unions are a biological cul-de-sac”.
The real source of antagonism
The Bible believing Christian community is accused of “phobia” in their opposition to a law that is clearly superfluous, irrelevant and contrary to the benefit of society. Actually the gay anti-Christian lobby is guilty of manifesting its own phobia. Whenever any reservations or opposition to these proposals by the Scottish Government are expressed, there is an immediate and vitriolic response from the homosexual lobby. MSP John Mason’s attempt to modify the SNP Government’s proposals was quickly condemned as an “ill informed homophobic rant” by one prominent Internet political blogger.
Patrick Harvey MSP and a number of Mr Mason’s fellow nationalist MSP’s used the media to attack him in a most intemperate fashion. Mr Harvey is not in a position to claim a disinterest in the issue, being openly bi-sexual and therefore publicly disdainful of the Christian faith. We could cite many more examples of anti-Christian phobia approved and endorsed by the authorities, such as the last administration’s funding of the public desecration of the Holy Scriptures in Glasgow. How ironic that Glasgow’s original motto was “Let Glasgow Flourish By The Preaching Of Thy Word And The Praising Of Thy Name.”
Those who espouse the homosexual lifestyle are in fact a tiny minority. They enjoy massive publicity and influence out of all proportion to their incidence in society. The Scottish Government’s bias in their favour is underlined by the fact that its Equality Unit has funded Lesbian and Gay organisations to the tune of £5.94 million since the 2001/2002 fiscal year, while it has given £3.82 million to religious groups. Of this sum only £595,223 was given to Christian churches.
If any unbiased and independent observer cared to study these figures and consider the tremendous work that many Christian churches do in fighting poverty and providing social support in deprived areas, an eyebrow might well be raised! Why should organisations that represent less than two percent (Government figures) of the population be granted ten times as much as Christian churches, which represent more than fifty percent?
Equally, why should the Scottish Government prioritise and push through legislation that is an affront to the teaching and deeply held beliefs of such a substantial part of the Scottish population? If this legislation were required to protect a persecuted minority it would have credence. No such requirement exists. Full protection is already legally guaranteed to all ethnic and cultural minorities under British and Scots Law.
Our stated views
You are now the Presiding Officer in the Scottish Parliament and are thus freed from the shackles of party politics. We understand that you may not be able to vote on this issue, but nevertheless as the constituency MSP for Glenrothes we call on you to take the views of our church fellowship into consideration and represent them to the Scottish Government.
To sum up our opposition to the Scottish Government’s proposed legislation we state the following:
- Marriage is the union of one man and one woman. It is ordained by God and has been a manifest blessing to individuals, nations and races for thousands of years.
- No Government has the right to redefine this, the most basic and foundational building block of civilised society.
- To legislate for the purpose of granting the right of same-sex couples to legally formalise their union in places hitherto reserved for the worship of God would undoubtedly open the door for further legislation compelling such places to make that availability compulsory. It would lead to a morass of litigation and counter litigation that could prove enormously costly to all concerned, including the Scottish Government. The practise of homosexuality is clearly contrary to the Holy Bible, which all true Christians hold to be the Word of God. To make the offer or impose the right of its practitioners to marry in a place of Christian worship would constitute a direct challenge to that Word.
- This legislation is perceived by a very large proportion of the Christian community to be a direct attack on their Christian Faith. It is also apparent that in this matter the Government is allowing itself, whether consciously or not, to be manipulated by a tiny but vociferous minority that does not represent the views or lifestyle of the great majority of Scottish people.
- The ancient Christian culture of the indigenous people of the Scottish nation is being undermined and brought into disrepute by a government which chooses to disregard the Eternal God and His infallible Word. This they do to their own peril. The story of the Scottish Covenanters is a mighty history lesson for any transient government to refrain from appearing to persecute its God fearing, Bible believing citizens.
In closing, because we write this letter on the basis of our Christian beliefs and none other, we quote from God’s Word whose authority must supersede all others.
“He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God” (2 Samuel ch.23, v.3)
We write to you as our representative in the Scottish Parliament whose devolved powers give it responsibility in this area of legislation and therefore charge it with framing that legislation in a manner that is not contrary to the common good. We thank you for your consideration of our letter.
Yours sincerely,
Kenny MacLeod, Harry Thomson, John E. Miller
|
Mustard Seed Fellowship, 05/12/2011
|
(page
1
2
3)
| |
|
Jenny |
06/12/2011 16:54 |
Amen
|
| |
|
JQ (Guest) |
08/12/2011 21:09 |
The demand for the legalisation of same – sex ‘marriage’ is not an equality or inclusiveness issue. It is instead, a vehicle for the corruption of children. The aim of the indoctrination of children is openly acknowledged by the homosexual lobby group Stonewall in the following video link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9VnzaH-uf8
You might wonder why at a time when the SNP are trying to win as many friends as possible in order to secure their goal of independence that they would devote so much time and resources, financial aid and effort to homosexual lobby groups to propel this legislation (an arrangement which will be taken up by relatively few persons if the numbers availing themselves of official recognition of civil partnerships is anything to go by) and not seem to care about alienating such a large proportion of the population. There is a reason which could at the moment be easily denied and challenged.
We mustn’t be deceived into believing any assurances that there will be exceptions granted to parents, teachers, churches or any other interested persons who object, on religious, conscience or any other relevant grounds, even if such exceptions are included in the legislation. Once on the statute book, other existing legislation will be brought into play to sweep away those ‘concessions’ in the same-sex marriage legislation and where that fails in its objective, amendments of the new legislation will easily follow. After that, any opposition will be swiftly dealt with under the charge that to even civilly say anything in opposition to that which has become law in this regard will be interpreted as encouraging adverse discrimination and engendering hate. Parents will be threatened with their children being taken into care if they counter what their children are taught in school, by teaching their children for example that true marriage can only be between one man and one woman.
For confirmation of the intentions of the Scottish Government you only have to view the following link: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/homosexual-education-pack-axed-from-scottish-schools/ for evidence of how the Scottish Parliament was issuing homosexual education packs to children even before their same –sex legislation proposals have been made law. This is surely an indication of how vigorous they will apply themselves to the task when they have the law to back them. To see how any opposition will be dealt with and as if you needed reminding, then please view the following video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnMYTeO3BjI
At the moment we have the freedom to say that adultery and homosexual behaviour is abhorrent. It would be wrong to say that the persons indulging in adulterous or homosexual behaviour are abhorrent ... law or no law! If this proposed legislation becomes law we may still be able to express our views regarding adultery, though we would certainly be prosecuted if we said that homosexual behaviour was abhorrent.
It is no mere coincidence that the Trojan horse Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill is being rushed through Parliament. It will contain loose wording such as criminalise behaviour likely to lead to public disorder which expresses or incites hatred, is threatening or is otherwise offensive to a reasonable person. What most people will not be aware of is that it will not only apply to those attending football matches, but will also and more importantly be used to silence ordinary people who civilly disagree with some behaviours but who will nonetheless be accused of criminal speech under the Threatening Communications section and perhaps very vigorously when parents try to counter what their children are taught in school or church or wherever.
|
| |
|
Peter Carr |
08/12/2011 21:28 |
It is now very clear that the current Scottish Govt, although elected democratically, are now acting in a very undemocratic way. They seem so desperate to achieve this legislation that they are now opening they way to the gay lobby in London (for example) which no doubt will be very influential in a city that size.
This no doubt will in some way be tied in with the rainbow coalition that we hear about on the news today!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-16074324
Mr Salmond has already decided for Scotland!!
|
| |
|
Grumpyoldman |
09/12/2011 17:04 |
I have written to The First Minister to express my surprise that people outside Scotland could participate in what I thought was a Scottish consultation.
The consultation period is almost over now and the matter has been prayed about by many people.
It is now in Gods hands.
|
| |
|
Penny Lee |
09/12/2011 17:54 |
"It is now in Gods hands."
And that's the most comforting comment of all. It couldn't be in a better place!
|
| |
|
Peter Carr |
09/12/2011 18:46 |
True Penny, and we all wait prayerfully and carefully what The Lord of life is going to do (or not), bearing in mind Rom 1: 18 "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness..."
|
| |
|
John Miller |
12/12/2011 11:20 |
This is a copy of an email that I sent to President Salmond:
Mr Salmond
Why do you want the opinions of persons other than of Scottish nationality regarding this matter. Do you not trust the Scots? This appears nothing more than a desperate attempt to shore up your government's position on this issue in the face of wide spread revulsion at its foolish agenda.
John E. Miller
|
| |
|
Peter Carr |
12/12/2011 11:32 |
John,
Like others of his ilk, Mr S is used to getting his own way, by fair means or foul. In this case it will come about by the latter!
However, there is another side to this coin that has to be considered in line with Rom 1: 18 ff, if what Lance Lambert has predicted on the 6/8/11 (available on this site) is true;
"I will allow demonic forces held in check erstwhile by My Word and Gospel, and the living faith of so many, to become rampant in her social life, to the destruction of her society."
|
| |
|
John Miller |
14/12/2011 10:40 |
Peter,
It is interesting that Romans 1:18 is in the present tense. If it was so in Paul's day, how much more today.
I trust that you are being encouraged in your own church which, I understand, is in my "neck of the woods".
|
| |
|
Peter Carr |
14/12/2011 14:15 |
Yes John, interesting times indeed.
(Working away in our little corner, like you sowing 'seeds') :-)
|
(page
1
2
3)
|
|
|
