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Incoming Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Lockington has charged the Church to Go on with confidence in God as it faces up to the many challenges that confront it coming into the next Millennium.
Dr Lockington was addressing the opening session of the Presbyterian General Assembly in Church House Belfast, 7.00pm, today, June 7, following his official election as Moderator by the 1,200 delegates in succession to outgoing Moderator Dr John Dixon.
'In our western world the Church seems to be in retreat. In this island many people are being lost to secularism and materialism. People in general have no interest in God. Faced with that situation what do we do? Do we give up or do we look up and hear God's challenge to go on and face all that with Him?
'You and I go on with confidence in God. Christians are people who have prospects. We have a future because our God is the God of the past, present and future. We need to remember that as we go into a new century and millennium. Don't you wonder how people will feel after this year is over and all the contrived excitement of the millennium celebrations has passed? I suspect there will be a great feeling of emptiness. What a difference it makes to have this confident assurance that however unknown and uncertain the future may be to us, He is the Sovereign ruler. '
The incoming Moderator, minister of the Gardenmore congregation in Larne has taken as his theme for the year 'Going on with God.' ' What I am referring to is spiritual progress, continued the Moderator. 'Progress can in human terms sometimes be viewed as a mixed blessing. However, spiritual progress is totally beneficial to those who experience it even though it may mean setting aside our personal dreams and aspirations.'
'Going on is a recurring theme in Scripture. Sometimes it comes in the form of a command, sometimes as a challenge, sometimes as an exhortation, sometimes as a personal affirmation. So the Church's responsibility is not only to call people to faith in Christ but to provide the motivation and opportunity and resources for them to be taught to observe all He has commanded. At the same time we are called to provide means for development, growth and maturing of those who know Christ... to ensure that resources are available to help them to go on in Christ.
But Dr Lockington had a warning for the Church and its members. 'There is a danger that we can misinterpret activity for progress. This can happen in life of a local congregation. Full of organisations and groups and classes and so much activity. But we need to be continually assessing if that is really producing what it ought to produce. Are people really progressing and going on? So too in our individual life. Christians can be so active and busy and think that it produces maturity and development. Activity, not even a great amount of activity, is not progress.'
Continually looking back was something else that the Moderator warned against. 'Progress just won't happen if we are continually looking back. The story of the Presbyterian Church is fascinating for there is so much for which we can be grateful to God. But we cannot live today on their experiences. So it is in our personal spiritual lives. We can try to live on past credit, and be so attached to past blessings and successes that we fail to go on.'
In conclusion Dr Lockington returned to his theme and challenged the church and its members to go on with God. 'As we pass from one day to another, one year to another, one century to another, one millennium to another let us go on seeking to make progress in our relationship with Christ, seeking to persevere in our service for Him and remaining confident of our prospects through Him. This is our calling first and foremost and the purpose and end of it all is that the Lord will be glorified in us now and forever.'
Earlier the Assembly had been addressed by outgoing Moderator Dr John Dixon who in reflecting on his year of office described it as ' exhilarating and exhausting, enlightening and enriching.'
'We want to thank God for the steady, if slow, progress being made towards political structures that command the allegiance of all our people. Let us not forget what has been achieved and encourage those politicians who have worked tirelessly to fulfil the desires of the citizens who voted in the Referenda in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.'
Dr Dixon was also quick to condemn the continuing and escalating cancer of sectarianism and intimidation. 'I unreservedly condemn the continuing intimidation by blast bomb, fire bomb, bullet, telephone call and verbal threat that kills people, displaces families, destroys communities and distresses individuals. Such activity is sinful, vile and utterly evil and has its roots in tribal religiosity which has nothing whatsoever to do with biblical Christianity. I call upon all who profess to love the Lord to love their neighbours as themselves and actively to support those under threat and to report perpetrators to the police.'
The RUC were singled out for praise by Dr Dixon who during his year had ministered to the family of Constable Frank O'Reilly, murdered while on duty in Portadown. ' I wish to pay tribute to the RUC who have at horrendous cost to themselves and their families, kept and continue to keep this society from descending into anarchy. Let us not forget their sacrifice, but rather as a church assure them of our appreciation of their courage and dignity under extreme pressure and provocation.'
The victims of violence were another group that the retiring Moderator said must never be forgotten. ' Victims often feel overlooked, marginalised and ignored. As we advance towards a new future they must never be forgotten. Indeed, as a church, we have an increasingly urgent need to address the pastoral responsibilities of counsel and care, as well as keeping Governments and Authorities aware of their on-going needs.'
The Assembly continues until Friday, 11 June, meeting in Church House, Belfast, and will discuss a wide range of issues including Parades, Ethical Investment, Homosexuality, plans for a new hymnbook, developing partnerships between congregations here and overseas, the present situation in the rural communities and restorative justice.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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