A forum in which Christians can discuss spiritual issues and learn reformed theology. Your opinions are important.
Monday, 23 April 2012
Hazlett Lynch's Books
For a selection of my published books, please visit here.
Thank you.
4 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Dear Hazlett, I have stumbled upon your blog and agree with so much that you say. As an ex Presbyterian I can highly recommend membership of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. As a family we have never heard such wonderful and inspirational preaching every Sunday... We are like sponges. Parched from remaining in the Presbyterian Church. The warmth, friendliness and fellowship in this denomination are unsurpassed and I would highly recommend the sermons of many of their ministers on Sermon Audio. Their evangelistic fervour is to such a concentrated degree that it would be a source of much refreshment to yourself and I think you may be amazed at the vitality, unity and zeal amongst this Church e.g. The Consider Christ campaign in the Republic of Ireland and Let the Bible Speak worldwide radio ministry (soon to also become a television ministry)... From a very glad to be in such a Godly and faithful denomination as the Free Presbyterian Church without any of the niggles, nonsense and inconsistencies of PCI. Your friend.
Dear Friend, it is not my practice to respond to anonymous "comments" but I make an exception in this case. I think Christians should not be afraid to give their names when they write in public arenas.
That said, I warmly appreciate you comments on the Gospel orientation of your new denomination. My major concern is the anti-biblical conjoining of preacher and politician that is accepted without question in that church. It is simply wrong for men called into Christian ministry to then virtually leave their ministries for four days each week, and get involved in politics. I long for the day when their congregations and indeed the General Presbytery has the courage to bite the bullet and make it illegal (according to church law) to become hirelings who leave the sheep in order to line their own pockets. It will be very interesting to see, when FP ministers come to retirement age, just what they will do thereafter. I suggest they will forsake their God-given calling to the Gospel ministers and pursue further their political careers - there's more money in politics that there is in preaching. But I hope I am wrong in this; time will tell.
I love the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and I enjoy preaching it wherever I am given opportunity. I agree, PCI is a horribly mixed denomination that has a large number of "essay readers" pretending to be Gospel preachers.
I am old enough to know that even the purest churches can stoop to great levels to destroy those with whom they disagree. How sad this is!
To end on a positive note, think about this quotation that is associated with the name of D. L. Moody: “The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully consecrated to Him.”
Let us seek to be such men in this dark age and generation.
Dear Hazlett, I accept your comments regarding my anonymous status. In my defence I wanted to send you a personal message & was unsure if my comments would be for your eyes only or the entire world. As it turns out, it is a public comment forum. So I'd prefer to remain anon but if our paths do cross, I will make myself known to you. I agree that logic would tell one that there are difficulties with a minister also being a politician. I think to be fair in both the FP Church & the Pres Church, the number of ministers with this dual role is minuscule. It is also my understanding (bearing in mind I hold no position in the FP church nor have ever discussed this issue with any ministers) that after Rev Wm McCrea retires, it will not be allowed for a FP minister to also be a politician. If this is indeed the definitive position of the FP Church, then the FP Church seem to have gone further on this issue than the Pres Church. On the issue of the pay - it is my understanding that Dr Paisley, never took a salary from the Martyrs Memorial Church & has given sacrificially to many works especially small works that he has taken a personal interest in. Infact at his farewell service, Dr Bill Woods, missionary to the Amazon recalled how Dr Paisley in his v early years had sent money to fund a man who had leprosy through Bible College in Brazil. 20 0r 30 years later Bill, when he was visiting a remote part of Peru (I think it was), heard of a thriving Church in the area. To his surprise it was this man who had leprosy long ago, whom an unheard of Ian Paisley had funded all those years ago. I could not have juggled all the roles those men have done. However, it is unknown this side of Heaven the good these men have done. Dr Paisley is a very Godly example how he spends so much of his time reading his Bible & what a fantastic knowledge he has. (I am sure the same could be said of Rev McCrea). I have heard Rev McCrea at a number of "packed out" tent missions (that went on night after night) & can still remember some of his preaching... Again, these men have been v sacrificial with their time & it is quite remarkable all the things they have packed into their lives.... The FP ministers do not seem to have the fairly lavish financial packages that Pres ministers enjoy, yet they seem to do at least twice as much work. This is our perception. Infact all the FP ministers we have come across, we are so impressed by how hard working they are and the enthusiasm that they approach all their work. The students for the FP ministry are all also such a joy too. You can almost see into their souls when they preach. I think what I am trying to say to you is we as ex Presbs are "knocked out" by the calibre & spiritual maturity that we have found in the FP Church. This is at EVERY level & descends down from the ministers, elders, students, Sunday School & Bible Class teachers & Children's Meeting leaders. Infact even the "ordinary" people in the pews have that impressive & inspirational character that sad to say is fairly haphazard & v much lacking in the Presb Church. Alot of the old stereotypes that abound regarding the FP church, just do not apply, certainly if our present & recent past experiences are anything to go by. I am guessing that you still remain a member of the Presbyterian Church? Being saved of course is the key issue. So, Hazlett if you have a free Sunday maybe you could be brave & venture into a Free P Church anywhere & test out what I am saying. If you are shy or unwell some Sunday, why not tune into SERMON AUDIO LIVE WEBCAST at 11.30 am or 7.00 pm & you can share in the worship amongst other places at Lisburn, Ballymoney, Ballymena, Magherafelt & Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Churches. Infact you can flick between all of the services & sample them all.... I think you will like what you hear very much & be pleasantly surprised. From your friend, albeit anonymous for now. At least I left you a comment!
Dear brother, to alleviate your concerns, I have not been a minister in PCI for 20 years. I am a Gospel preacher, and PCI does not tolerate passionate Gospel preachers, nor do some other churches. So long as a Gospel minister 'toes the line' with the denomination first, he will be tolerated; otherwise they have to be removed. That denomination is in a terrible spiritual and theological mess. So grim is it that it needs the Gospel urgently but is only getting a diluted version of it that can hardly be described as 'good news.' We attended Magherafelt for a while, and my wife (who is recovering from cancer) and I watch both live streaming of Magherafelt services and also receive regularly the DVDs, for which we are very thankful. It would be good to meet, and hopefully some time soon we will.
4 comments:
Dear Hazlett, I have stumbled upon your blog and agree with so much that you say. As an ex Presbyterian I can highly recommend membership of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. As a family we have never heard such wonderful and inspirational preaching every Sunday... We are like sponges. Parched from remaining in the Presbyterian Church. The warmth, friendliness and fellowship in this denomination are unsurpassed and I would highly recommend the sermons of many of their ministers on Sermon Audio. Their evangelistic fervour is to such a concentrated degree that it would be a source of much refreshment to yourself and I think you may be amazed at the vitality, unity and zeal amongst this Church e.g. The Consider Christ campaign in the Republic of Ireland and Let the Bible Speak worldwide radio ministry (soon to also become a television ministry)... From a very glad to be in such a Godly and faithful denomination as the Free Presbyterian Church without any of the niggles, nonsense and inconsistencies of PCI. Your friend.
Dear Friend, it is not my practice to respond to anonymous "comments" but I make an exception in this case. I think Christians should not be afraid to give their names when they write in public arenas.
That said, I warmly appreciate you comments on the Gospel orientation of your new denomination. My major concern is the anti-biblical conjoining of preacher and politician that is accepted without question in that church. It is simply wrong for men called into Christian ministry to then virtually leave their ministries for four days each week, and get involved in politics. I long for the day when their congregations and indeed the General Presbytery has the courage to bite the bullet and make it illegal (according to church law) to become hirelings who leave the sheep in order to line their own pockets. It will be very interesting to see, when FP ministers come to retirement age, just what they will do thereafter. I suggest they will forsake their God-given calling to the Gospel ministers and pursue further their political careers - there's more money in politics that there is in preaching. But I hope I am wrong in this; time will tell.
I love the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and I enjoy preaching it wherever I am given opportunity.
I agree, PCI is a horribly mixed denomination that has a large number of "essay readers" pretending to be Gospel preachers.
I am old enough to know that even the purest churches can stoop to great levels to destroy those with whom they disagree. How sad this is!
To end on a positive note, think about this quotation that is associated with the name of D. L. Moody: “The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully consecrated to Him.”
Let us seek to be such men in this dark age and generation.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 2:08:00 pm
Dear Hazlett, I accept your comments regarding my anonymous status. In my defence I wanted to send you a personal message & was unsure if my comments would be for your eyes only or the entire world. As it turns out, it is a public comment forum. So I'd prefer to remain anon but if our paths do cross, I will make myself known to you.
I agree that logic would tell one that there are difficulties with a minister also being a politician. I think to be fair in both the FP Church & the Pres Church, the number of ministers with this dual role is minuscule. It is also my understanding (bearing in mind I hold no position in the FP church nor have ever discussed this issue with any ministers) that after Rev Wm McCrea retires, it will not be allowed for a FP minister to also be a politician. If this is indeed the definitive position of the FP Church, then the FP Church seem to have gone further on this issue than the Pres Church.
On the issue of the pay - it is my understanding that Dr Paisley, never took a salary from the Martyrs Memorial Church & has given sacrificially to many works especially small works that he has taken a personal interest in. Infact at his farewell service, Dr Bill Woods, missionary to the Amazon recalled how Dr Paisley in his v early years had sent money to fund a man who had leprosy through Bible College in Brazil. 20 0r 30 years later Bill, when he was visiting a remote part of Peru (I think it was), heard of a thriving Church in the area. To his surprise it was this man who had leprosy long ago, whom an unheard of Ian Paisley had funded all those years ago.
I could not have juggled all the roles those men have done. However, it is unknown this side of Heaven the good these men have done. Dr Paisley is a very Godly example how he spends so much of his time reading his Bible & what a fantastic knowledge he has. (I am sure the same could be said of Rev McCrea).
I have heard Rev McCrea at a number of "packed out" tent missions (that went on night after night) & can still remember some of his preaching... Again, these men have been v sacrificial with their time & it is quite remarkable all the things they have packed into their lives....
The FP ministers do not seem to have the fairly lavish financial packages that Pres ministers enjoy, yet they seem to do at least twice as much work. This is our perception.
Infact all the FP ministers we have come across, we are so impressed by how hard working they are and the enthusiasm that they approach all their work.
The students for the FP ministry are all also such a joy too. You can almost see into their souls when they preach.
I think what I am trying to say to you is we as ex Presbs are "knocked out" by the calibre & spiritual maturity that we have found in the FP Church. This is at EVERY level & descends down from the ministers, elders, students, Sunday School & Bible Class teachers & Children's Meeting leaders.
Infact even the "ordinary" people in the pews have that impressive & inspirational character that sad to say is fairly haphazard & v much lacking in the Presb Church.
Alot of the old stereotypes that abound regarding the FP church, just do not apply, certainly if our present & recent past experiences are anything to go by.
I am guessing that you still remain a member of the Presbyterian Church?
Being saved of course is the key issue. So, Hazlett if you have a free Sunday maybe you could be brave & venture into a Free P Church anywhere & test out what I am saying.
If you are shy or unwell some Sunday, why not tune into SERMON AUDIO LIVE WEBCAST at 11.30 am or 7.00 pm & you can share in the worship amongst other places at Lisburn, Ballymoney, Ballymena, Magherafelt & Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Churches. Infact you can flick between all of the services & sample them all.... I think you will like what you hear very much & be pleasantly surprised. From your friend, albeit anonymous for now. At least I left you a comment!
Dear brother, to alleviate your concerns, I have not been a minister in PCI for 20 years. I am a Gospel preacher, and PCI does not tolerate passionate Gospel preachers, nor do some other churches. So long as a Gospel minister 'toes the line' with the denomination first, he will be tolerated; otherwise they have to be removed. That denomination is in a terrible spiritual and theological mess. So grim is it that it needs the Gospel urgently but is only getting a diluted version of it that can hardly be described as 'good news.' We attended Magherafelt for a while, and my wife (who is recovering from cancer) and I watch both live streaming of Magherafelt services and also receive regularly the DVDs, for which we are very thankful.
It would be good to meet, and hopefully some time soon we will.
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