A Personal Insight

The following article was written by a family member and good friend, who has personal insight into the Church now at the centre of the 'gay minister' (can those two words go together?) debate. His thoughts are worth digesting, and well written. I have replicated it here with his permission. My thanks to Norman Graham for nailing the issue, and addressing the core of the problem.

“Gilcomston South Church of Scotland in Aberdeen has become the first Church of Scotland to move towards holding a vote on whether to leave the mainstream Church. This is after the General Assembly voted to allow the ordination of gay ministers.

Before his death, Gilcomston South was the Church where Rev William Still ministered for 52 years before his death. I heard him preach there myself and was touched by his grace and care to steadfastly and carefully preach the Word of God consistently and faithfully. He knew how much rested on it not only being taught from the pulpit, but on a life lived expressing its truths, didn't shirk away from the 'tough passages' and diligently practised the prayer life, both personally and with his congregation, which he knew was utterly critical to both personal and communal growth as a Church, and in reaching out to those in Aberdeen and further afield who did not yet know God's love in their lives.

The love he had for his congregation, and their respect for him was obvious. His Church was one of the stalwarts, maintaining Biblical roots at a time when liberalism and its danger was rife throughout the Church of Scotland and that influence still causes it to wander far from its roots. Christianity does not have 'love' per se, at its core, but 'God's love'. Those are two very different concepts and only one sets us free to live as God intended us to, whilst the other sounds impressive but, having no moral core to anchor it, shifts with the winds of change blowing through each society, meaning different things at different times with no steadfast moral compass.

"Love" means whatever we want it to mean. "God's love" is rooted in His Word, displayed definitively through His character, revealed to us in Christ and practised, admittedly frequently imperfectly, by His people. The errant ways of God's Church will always be counteracted by looking, not necessarily to those who make decisions apparently in His name (feet of clay), but through the clear means whereby God has communicated to us, His Word, the Bible, interpreted prayerfully and wisely. Where this world and elements of the Church depart from God's Word as their moral compass and source for life and living, we respectfully depart from their association. We do so explaining carefully and in a respectful manner why it is necessary. God will honour those who honour Him and God will continue to reach out to those who reject Him with love and mercy. When I despair of the Church, I remember my own relatives and loved ones who now rest in Christ's presence and take courage in the fact that they watch over us encouraging us to continue in the same pathway they walked, ever looking to God's love and direction.”